Black Kangaroo Paw

Don demonstrated how good black kangaroo paws can look in a large, glazed pot.

The black kangaroo paw (Macropidia fuliginosa) is one of our most spectacular Australian native plants. It has greenish-yellow flowers on long, branching stems, and blue-green, strappy leaves. Both the flowers and stems are covered in jet black hairs. A native of Western Australia, this is a difficult plant to grow in humid climates, where it tends to develop fungal diseases and drop dead. In these areas black kangaroo paws are best thought of as short term plants, which will survive in a sunny position in a container for a few years.

Species selection

Don potted up several ‘Bush Eclipse’ kangaroo paws. Produced by tissue culture, ‘Bush Eclipse’ is a selected form of Macropidia fuliginosa and is from the Bush Gem series.

Don used a green glazed pot to pick up the grey-green colour of the kangaroo paw leaves. After making sure the pot had enough drainage holes, he filled it with a free-draining potting mix suitable for native plants. The kangaroo paws were then planted in the pot, watered and mulched.

The foliage was then watered over with Yates Anti Rot, in the hope that this product will help control fungal problems such as ‘ink spot’. Anti Rot is a form of phosacid, which inhibits the growth of fungus and enhances the defence system of plants. It is also a very safe chemical to use, for both humans and the environment.

Kookaburra feast

While potting up the kangaroo paws Don disturbed the surrounding gravel. This was a great opportunity for a pair of hungry kookaburras to swoop down and gobble up some worms. Don explained that birds have much better eyesight than human beings and can see worms where we simply cannot see them. Birds have better colour vision and many can actually see into the ultraviolet part of the spectrum.

Further information

'Bush Eclipse' is from the Bush Gem series. It is available from most specialist native nurseries, or order through your local nursery. Expect to pay around $15 for a 150mm (6") pot.

Yates Anti Rot costs about $15 for 500mL.

Copyright CTC Productions 2003