Black Kangaroo Paw

Ideal Position

Black Kangaroo Paw prefers an open, full sun position and is perfect for a feature shrubbery. This plant and its neighbours should be well spaced so they don’t overlap once fully grown. For best results, avoid morning, overhead or afternoon shade.

Black Kangaroo Paw makes an excellent feature specimen and focal point for any garden.

Black Kangaroo Paw is ideally placed at the front of your garden bed.

When to Plant and Watering’

Plant young seedlings in Djeran (mid-Autumn) prior to the Makuru rains (Winter). Avoid planting in the hottest times of the year.

Seedlings should be watered twice a week over their first summer in the garden. It is important to ensure water penetrates down into the root-zone.

We recommend using a soil wetting agent as Perth soils are often ‘water repellent’, or do not absorb water effectively.

A layer of composted, coarse mulch can help in getting your garden started. It will help by reducing water loss and suppressing the growth of weeds.

Black Kangaroo Paw need extra water when budding or in flower to promote a strong display.

When in bloom, it can be irrigated on your rostered watering days.

Black Kangaroo Paw should be grouped with other plants which benefit from supplementary watering at flowering time.

Feeding and Soil Care

Black Kangaroo Paw will benefit from supplementary feeding.

A native, slow release fertiliser can be applied every nine months.

A light application of blood and bone, with a small amount of potash applied during flower-bud production, will promote a strong floral display.

Avoid fertilisers that contain high rates of phosphate – this could harm neighbouring habitat plants.

How to Prune

Dead or failing flowers should be removed at the base of the flowering stem using a pair of secateurs.

Black Kangaroo Paw can be rejuvenated every few years by pruning the entire plant down to ground level following flowering.