Kangaroo paws

Kangaroo paws are instantly recognisable by their distinctive appearance and striking flower colours. The red and green Mangles’ kangaroo paw, Anigozanthos manglesii, is the Western Australian floral emblem, forms part of the state’s coat of arms and is the logo of both Kings Park and the volunteer Guides.

There are twelve wild species, found only in the state’s southwest. Of these, eleven are the kangaroo paws and smaller cats paws in the genus Anigozanthos, while the twelfth is the remarkable black kangaroo paw, Macropidia fuliginosa. Bushland areas of Kings Park are home to the striking red and green Mangles’ kangaroo paw, Anigozanthos manglesii: look for it along the Nature Trail.

Kangaroo paw flowers are fuzzy on the outside, like the paw of a kangaroo or cat. They are tubular, usually curved and often green, red or yellow. They attract birds such as the white cheeked honey eater and the red wattle bird, which collect nectar from the base of the floral tube by probing the flower with their long, curved bills and long, brush-tipped tongues. The fuzzy stem forms a non-slip perch for the visiting pollinator. While visiting, the bird collects pollen on its head, which it then carries to nearby kangaroo paw flowers, resulting in pollination. These birds are often seen on the park’s kangaroo paws – watch for the flexible flowering stem springing back as the bird flies away.

Kangaroo paws are highly sought after and grown internationally for the cut-flower trade. Breeding programs, undertaken mainly by the Kings Park Plant Development team, have led to many new varieties of the kangaroo paw. They offer a wide range of colours, including the remarkable blue-flowered ‘Masquerade’ and compact forms that are suitable for growing in the home garden.

Flowering begins in late winter and extends into early summer, covering the Noongar Djilba and Kambarang seasons. Many of the new forms bred by Kings Park can be seen in the Waxflower and Kangaroo Paw Garden where the taller-growing varieties are in full flower in October and November. There are other significant plantings within the Western Australian Botanic Garden – have a look in the Floral Mound, around the Botanic Garden entrance, and in several regional gardens such as the Southwest, Stirling Range, South Coastal and Wheatbelt beds. You will also find them in most other display gardens through the park, notably at the State War Memorial around the Pool of Reflection.

Ask our friendly Guides in the Visitor Information Centre to find out where the Kangaroo Paws are, or join one of our guided walks to hear more about them.