Scientific: Anigozanthos rufus
Common: red kangaroo paws
Family: Haemodoraceae
Origin: Endemic to sandy soils of extreme southwest Australia.
Pronounciation: An-i-go-ZAN-thos RU-fus
Hardiness zones
Sunset 13-24
USDA 9 (with some protection)-11
Landscape Use: Landscape perennial borders, subtropical and tropical landscape settings, floral and textural accent, oasis landscape design themes, cut flower.
Form & Character: Basally clumping, dense, short and upright except in bloom when it becomes exquisitely festive in appearance.
Growth Habit: Evergreen, mostly herbaceaous perennial shrub to 3- to 5-feet tall with equal spread, acaulescent, densely clumping due to short rhizomes. Growth rate and eventual size varies with water availability.
Foliage/Texture: Thick, medium to grey green, leathery, very narrow grass-like, linear leaves to 3-feet long, basal rosette branching, clumping; medium fine texture.
Flowers & Fruits: Long tubular red flowers, densely haired that open to six small petals, cymose or racemose on branched elongated stalks to 6- to 8-feet long. Flowers are pollinated by birds. Fruits are a 3-celled capsule, persistent and inconspicuous. Seeds are angular to oblong, pitted or furrowed, reddish brown to grey or black.
Seasonal Color: Red flowers during March and April in Phoenix and during May and June in southern California coastal areas.
Temperature: Hardy to 25oF. Tolerant of some desert summer heat. In the desert, needs some protection such as being located on an eastern building exposure. Otherwise, thrives along southern and central California coastal areas in full sun.
Light: In Phoenix, partial shade (from western sun) is best; no full shade.
Soil: Tolerant of many soil types.
Watering: Infrequent deep irrigations especially suring summer. Limited supplemental during winter.
Pruning: Remove spent flower stalks in early summer.
Propagation: Tissue culture, seed, division of basal clumps.
Disease and Pests: Aphids on flowers.
Additional comments: This is a carefree accent plant for Phoenix oasis gardens when a tropical vibe is desired. Red kangaroo paws are easy to care for and thrive with supplemental water and protection from western sun during Phoenix summers. Additionally, this is simply a fabulous and tough perennial accent plant for all sunny exposures in coastal California cities.
There are several named cultivars including 'Backdraft' and 'Kings Park Federation'. It has also been crossed with Anigozanthos pulcherimus to produce the hybrid cross Anigozanthos x 'Tequila Sunrise'.
