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Australian Native Plants

Kangaroo paws

11 years ago

We've been trying for years to grow kangaroo paws along our side fence, where they get mainly morning sun. I've tried cutting them right back to get new growth (there wasn't much) and we even feed and water them sometimes, but they keep dying. I look at the big bushy kangaroo paws in other gardens and wonder what we're doing wrong! Maybe they're just not getting enough sun, but would that make them actually go brown and die?

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Comments (3)

tropicbreezent
11 years ago
Hard to imagine Kangaroo Paws not doing well in WA. There must be something about the soil you're placing them in. Maybe you're giving them too much fertiliser. As a native they wouldn't need much. Also, most Australian natives don't like phosphorus which is in most fertilisers. You can get fertiliser specially made for natives. Whereabouts in WA are you.
Woko
11 years ago
I believe most, if not all, Kangaroo Paws grow naturally in sandy soil so they wouldn't require much, if any, fertilizer since nutrients are quickly leached from sand.
What sort of soil are your Paws growing in, Rainbow7? If necessary, can you replicate as closely as possible their natural conditions?
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I have found that Anigozanthos is quite long lived especially in neglected areas or areas that did not and do not receive wonderfully rich organic compost applications. That first photo is a commercial shopping center bed that was planted about a decade ago ( Hopmonk Brewery in Novato ) . It receives some commercial level maintenance attention but it is not lovingly cared for by a home gardener ( no disrespect to commercially cared for landscape companies) . The second image is of a residential project in Belvedere that was also planted about 10 years ago. It has not received 'attention to detail' maintenance over the years yet the Anigozanthos is doing well . The Leucadendron Jesters have not been adequately pruned and are out of scale now and looking rangey. I have some 'neglectful' areas in my own experimental home garden. Some of the kangaroo paws are going on 15 years old and still bloom despite the poor soil and infringing shade from the overhead oak trees . I believe that true to their native habitat that the Anigozanthos prefers lean soil fertility conditions and good drainage for it to be successful in the long run. Good gardening to you.
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growd
11 years ago
The most common problem with kangaroo paw is overwatering. Check the soil where it's growing to see whether it isn't just accidentally planted in a patch of clay, if so, move it. Otherwise take it our and build up a bed slightly above ground level, fill with well draining soil and replant. That should leave your kangaroo paw dry enough to do well. The one across the road might be slightly elevated above ground level and therefore isn't swamped when it gets watered.

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