What is a kangaroo paw?
The kangaroo paw is a Western Australian plant with furry, tubular flowers shaped like a kangaroo's paw. The red and green kangaroo paw is the floral emblem of Western Australia.
Kangaroo paws grow naturally only in the southwest of Western Australia. There are about 12 species in the genera Anigozanthos and Macropidia, with flowers in shades of red, green, yellow, orange, pink and black.
Their velvety flowers are covered in fine hairs. When birds such as honeyeaters feed on the nectar, pollen brushes onto their heads and is carried to other flowers.
State emblem
The red and green kangaroo paw was proclaimed Western Australia's floral emblem in 1960. It appears in many state symbols.
Kangaroo paws are popular garden plants worldwide, and Australian breeders have developed compact hybrids for pots and borders. They are also grown as cut flowers and exported overseas.
Kings Park in Perth displays many varieties in spring, when the plants flower on tall stems above strap-like leaves. In the wild, they often grow in sandy heathland and woodland, sometimes regrowing quickly after bushfires. Tall kangaroo paw stems can reach two metres in some species.
Did You Know?
The black kangaroo paw belongs to its own separate genus, Macropidia.