A 5 gallon nursery can with crammed roots in a south facing spot and only getting handwatered twice a week; you killed it from lack of water, plain and simple. I agree that Kangaroo Paws can be temperamental to grow with regard to drainage and proper watering, but the Anigozanthus flavidus cultivars are among the easiest to grow. Do amend the soils for good drainage, give it full sun and good air circulation and avoid overhead spray on the foliage if you want to minimize the Ink Spot disease, and regularly prune off infected foliage to the ground, especially if it isn't getting full sun and/or good air circulation. I have found that some species/cultivars of Anigozanthus are much more tolerant of clay soils than others, and any of the A. flavidus cultivars are fairly tolerant of clay, as well as it is sloped or amended slightly so that it doesn't stay saturated. Not a good candidate for planting where it gets constant overhead spray irrigation which in combination with too little full sun can lead to the fungal disease. While this plant is rather drought tolerant in the ground once it is established, as a container plant in its original size container from the nursery, twice a week watering in full hot sun just isn't enough, and you cooked it. Get another one now that it has cooled down, get it into the ground in full sun with good drainage, and the twice a week watering regimen will probably work just fine. If you prefer to keep it in a container, buy a smaller one gallon, repot into a larger 5 gallon container, and hook it up to an automatic drip irrigation system so that it gets a little bit every or every other day, or keep an eye on the plant so that it doesn't ever go bone dry between waterings.

I gave one a try last year - and just like Wallisadi said, mine also did not make it through the heat I grow a lot of Aussie orchids and they are not easy to grow - they all tolerate cold well and low humidity, but they do not want to get all hot and sweaty.... For example, both Australia and California are famous for their cymbidiums - which makes me think CA and Australia are more similar in their general growing climate than us. To grow cymbidiums in Fl, one has to find heat and humidity tolerant varieties... The Kangaroo plant sure was cute, I wish I still had it growing :) Olya

If it is still wilting even with moist soil, then it could be the opposite problem of staying too wet! Kangaroo Flower wants good drainage, but isn't drought tolerant until it is well rooted in. If it is one of the more difficult to grow species/cultivars other than an Anigozanthus flavidus type, they can be touchy regardless of what you do, especially if it is allowed to dry out and then you try to revive it. I don't think fertilizer would help at this point, if the flower stalks don't revive, cut them off at ground level and see if the plant settles in.

Hi there That sounds a bit sad, limp and hanging over the edge! I am intrigued that the kangaroo paw is sold in areas such as yours, do people have them in their gardens ? Knowing where they come from, I am amazed that they would grow in such a cold place, with low levels of light. I guess your summers might be hot and sunny so it could be enough for the plant to survive well. I have grown Kpaws in my garden north of Sydney and they are pretty tough plants. I have known people who just run the lawn mower over them at the end of the summer and they survive and flower well the next season. I guess you could store the rhizome over winter. If all else fails you could buy another plant next spring. What colour was the flower ? I think KP's look their best when they are grown in swathes. Sorry I am not much help to you. Popi