Flower Library
Kangaroo Paw
Anigozanthos · Haemodoraceae
The kangaroo paw earns its name: its tubular, velvety-haired blooms open at the tip like little paws with spread toes. The fine felting gives the flower a texture you want to touch, and the colours range from yellow through orange to bicoloured red and green. It is long-lasting, structural and a modern favourite — we buy it fresh at the Veiling Rhein-Maas on a regular basis.
- Season
- Year-round
- Vase life
- 10–18 days
- Latin name
- Anigozanthos
- Colors
- Yellow, Orange, Red, Green, Pink, Bicoloured red-green
The colour of the kangaroo paw sits not in petals but in dense, coloured hairs on the flower tubes — which is why it looks velvety and holds its colour for so long. The bicolour of many varieties comes from red felt on the stem and green flower tips, most beautiful in Anigozanthos manglesii, the emblem of Western Australia.
The cut trade is dominated by robust hybrids of the Bush Gems series such as „Bush Gold“ and „Bush Ranger“, along with large-flowered flavidus crosses. The branched stems carry many blooms on several levels that open in sequence — one stem keeps working in the vase for weeks.
In floristry the kangaroo paw is a line and structure flower. Its upright, branched sprays give bouquets height and a wild, naturalistic pull. It stands superbly next to fellow Australians and Cape plants such as protea and eryngium, but also with craspedia and grasses in modern, pared-back designs.
Practical for pet households: anigozanthos is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs — far from a given among the exotics. Together with its long vase life, that makes it one of our first recommendations when an unusual bouquet is headed for a household with a curious cat.
It is uncomplicated in care, disliking only one thing: permanently wet foliage and murky water, which turn the stems soft. A fresh cut, a moderately filled vase and regular water changes are enough. At the end of its vase life it can be dried hanging, keeping its shape and much of its colour.
Is Kangaroo Paw toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Anigozanthos is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and people, making it a good exotic choice for pet households. As with all ornamental plants, ingestion is still not advised.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Cut the stems at an angle and place them in a moderately filled vase of clean water.
- 02Change the water every two to three days — murky water softens the stems.
- 03Remove any foliage that would reach below the waterline.
- 04Position bright and airy, avoiding direct midday sun.
- 05Pluck out spent individual tube blooms; the next ones open on.
- 06To dry, hang upside down in a shaded, airy spot.
Frequently asked
- How long does kangaroo paw last in the vase?
- Ten to eighteen days are normal, because the blooms on the branched sprays open one after another. Clean water and a fresh cut every few days are what matters — then it ranks among the most enduring flowers in a bouquet.
- Is kangaroo paw toxic to cats or dogs?
- No, anigozanthos is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and people. That makes it one of the few exotic cut flowers we recommend without reservation for pet households. As always: nibbling still is not encouraged.
- Why does the bloom feel velvety?
- The flower tubes are densely covered in fine, coloured hairs — the colour of the kangaroo paw sits in this felt, not in petals. The technical term is indumentum. This very hairiness is what makes the bloom so durable and gives it its unmistakable texture.
- Can you dry kangaroo paws?
- Yes, very well. Hung upside down, the velvety blooms keep their shape and most of their colour. Dried kangaroo paws give dried bouquets a structure hardly any other flower provides — and last there for many months.