8802 Kangaroo paws anyone?

Has anyone tried these plants? I tried two last year and although they did not do a lot of growing they survived the summer but collapsed in the winter. However a lot of things do that for me so any successes out there, as I think they could be drought resistant and quite attractive to boot. I have just noticed their appearance in the shop down the road.

Category
Gardening & Agriculture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 03:11

Hi Elliven! Kangaroo Paw [B][I](Anigozanthos manglesii)[/I][/B] is, according to my Australian gardening book, [B][I]"difficult to cultivate, but is outstanding when successful. It is an open plant with pointed leaves, above which rise 0.9 m spikes with red and gree paw-shaped flowers in spring and summer". Kangaroo paws in cultivation often die down in the autumn and re-appear in late winter. Others die after two years. Some, finding a position which suits them, live for several years and grow bigger. The shrub needs coarse, sandy soil, little moisture and full sunlight." [/I][/B]As all Australian natives it is a highly temperamental plant, although I have seen them in the European nurseries. I never tried to grow it myself as both in Australia and here in Europe I live in places where it rains quite a bit, so they are not suitable. The wild kangaroo paw grows naturally in the desertic areas of Australia.
Kangaroo paw is absolutely outstanding for flower arrangements, particularly for Ikebana.
All what I can add is "good luck", but it may be worth the effort.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 16:21

Now, Bagni di Lucca, is that the place with the big square pond in the centre not too far from Cortona? Visited some years ago in Aug - very hot! so could be good for the k-p's.
Mind you have been in Cortona in winter with huge lump of ice under a dripping tap!
Always a bit surprised at how well Opuntias do here as winters can be cold and we are quite high up in S Lazio PS when it comes to these cacti - non toccare! One brief experience of the spines was enough

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/17/2008 - 02:39

No, we are at the Northern end of the region, in what is called the "Green Tuscany", about 30 km east of Lucca on the Lima River. Not the ideal climate for Kangaroo Paw, although I have seen some nurseries selling it.

P.S. If you want to know more about the area have a look at [url=http://www.valdilima.com/]Val di Lima - The guide to Bagni di Lucca and around - Start here![/url]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 02/17/2008 - 05:22

Further to my previous message, more information about the area on [url=http://www.prolocobagnidilucca.it/]Benvenuti nel sito ufficiale della Pro-Loco di Bagni di Lucca[/url]