12 0417 294 778 A Touch of Grass Garden Care GARDEN CLEANUPS / REJUVENATION & MAKEOVERS A SPECIALTY We offer an experienced, professional and reliable service Call Jeremy on ... Est. Gold Coast since 2001 Let us create your new and rejuvenated garden where you can sit back, relax and enjoy your tranquil surroundings ... Specialising Garden Makeovers & Rejuvenation * Garden Care * Plant Selection * Soft Landscaping There’s a long held view by many gardeners that iconic Kangaroo Paws can’t be grown successfully away from their natural distribution range in South West Western Australia. Plant selection and breeding programmes have developed cultivated forms of Anigozanthis species over the past four decades resulting in excellent plants for the home garden and landscapes. In the wild there are 12 species ranging from the 30cm brilliant red and green flowering Anigozanthosmanglesii to the bright yellow A. flavidus which grows around a metre tall. Cultivars bred from the species flavidus seem to be the hardiest through our summer wet spells. The range of cultivars and hybrids stretches into many dozens, all with enhanced disease resistance overcoming the problems associated with Ink Spot fungus. It was this ugly black spotting disease which previously precluded their success in the humid climate of the Eastern States. Care and good site selection still remain important. It is essential to plant into free draining soil, using only slow release native fertilisers low in phosphorus. Watering techniques remain critical, sub surface water deep into the root zone is preferred, avoiding showering the foliage or wetting the crown. Kangaroo Paws can provide an understorey infill complementing our regional trees, shrubs and ground covers, and are a fabulous accent when planted individually. They also make spectacular long flowering and colourful bedding displays. Planted near other bird attracting plants like Grevilleas and Bottlebrush, the nectar filled tubular flowers of Kangaroo Paw encourage smaller nectar feeding Honeyeaters and Spinebills. Don’t be surprised to find the odd long flowering stem which stretches well above the strappy foliage bent over, or broken by the weight of delighted birds! Regular dead heading (the removal of spent flowers) will induce new flowers stems, or alternatively pick flowering stems as cut flowers. Although not a native of South East Queensland, Kangaroo Paws contribute to a unique Australian identity in our gardens. Melded with colourful local ground covers like Scaevolaalbida or aemula, Purple Fanflower, Chrysocephelumapiculatum Yellow Buttons, Xerochrysum cultivars Paper Daisies or any of the low Hibbertia species they make a great show. Trim Kangaroo Paw foliage as low as possible after the peak flowering period, or when the flowers fade and they’ll quickly recover with new bright green healthy stems and repeat flowers. Select the taller growing perennial hybrids and cultivar Kangaroo paws, regularly trim off old flowers and lightly prune associated ground covers and the reward will be almost year round colour and bird life. The smaller varieties tend to have shorter lives but provide amazing short term colour, and are great in pots! Flowering Kangaroo Paws can be seen at the Botanic Gardens in season. Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, Rosser Park, 232 Ashmore Rd, Benowa Gardening by Kate Heffernan Honorary Life Member Friends of GCRBG, Botanic Garden Consultant
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