PlantFiles: Kangaroo Paw, Cat's Paw
Anigozanthos flavidus

I found Kangaroo Paws growing in the parking area of the Olive Garden on Ming Ave. Bakiersfield, CA. They were beautiful. They were the deep red variety.

Other websites suggest the "velvet" on the flowers may be a skin irritant.

I received this as a gift and planted it . I have it in full sun which the label said to do. It has not done so well and the blooms are turning white, they were orange. The foilage is still as green as when I first put it in the ground. Do not know what is wrong. Have not over or under watered it. I am still trying for some success here.
nipajo

Grows well in Irvine, CA.

The Kangaroo Paw is a Western Australian grass-like plant that grows in desert regions. The plant will do well in hot, dry areas -needing more water when flowering.

As I live in Melbourne, kangaroo paws do not do well in our cold wet winters and will die back over winter - some do not return.

But I have had some success in growing a smaller variety in a wide pot on a sunny verandah. This flowers every year with pink fuzzy flowers - the fuzzy pinkness covers the stems of the flowers making a delightful pink against the bright green of the plant. Varieties include red and green flowers (beautiful), cream and green flowers (impressive), green (hardy) and various single colours reds, oranges and yellows. New breeds are making growing easier.

As to height, the tallest I've seen is the height of a man growing in a grass-like clump. The plant itself is low (2 feet) but the flower stalks give the plant height.

It comes in red/maroon, dark yellow, and perhaps in other colors.

My first year of growing this plant from South West Austrailia.

Has mid-green, strap shaped leaves up to 3.5ft long which are evergreen. Bears curious two lipped, tubular flowers with have a serrated edge and are covered in a soft wool giving the impression of a paw. The plant spreads by rhizomes and seeds.

Flowers May-August outdoors but can flower at anytime indoors.

Likes moist, welll drained, humus rich, sandy loam in sun or light shade. It will require winter protection and is hardy down to 41F, mulch to protect the crown if grown outdoors with straw or bark chips.

I've just found out that they can grow to 10ft high in the right conditions.