Dramatic paws

Combining kangaroo paws with other plants

• Tall kangaroo paws are most commonly found in shades of yellow, orange and red, although other colours are being bred and will become more available. Try to choose colours that complement each other and the rest of your planting palette.
• Yellow and orange kangaroo paws pair beautifully with cheerful natives such as paper daisies, billy buttons and yellow buttons. Orange also looks striking when used alongside purples and pinks, creating bold, high-contrast combinations. Kangaroo paws can be used much like geums or salvias – to inject vibrant pops of colour throughout the garden.
• Red kangaroo paws tend to be more dominant, which can be both a strength and a challenge. To soften their intensity, try combining them with lighter tones such as white. We often pair them with winged everlasting (Ammobium alatum), which works as a neutral anchor and opens the door to adding other colours such as pinks and purples. As red is so attention-grabbing, these varieties look especially effective in part-shaded areas, where they pop against the green foliage of plants such as ferns, shrubs and leafy groundcovers.
• To further soften strong tones, consider weaving in bluish-toned grasses or plants with silvery foliage, such as westringia, diplolaena, or Eucalyptus ‘Moon Lagoon’.
• Kangaroo paws respond well to regular feeding, which promotes lush, leafy growth and more vibrant, longer-lasting flowers. Fertilise them every 6–8 weeks during the growing season for best results, especially in pots or poor soils.

Get your copy of the August issue for more design advice from Emmaline Bowman, plus get expert care tips from Angus Stewart.

Words by Emmaline Bowman
Header image: ‘Carnivale’ kangaroo paw captured by Brent Wilson