IN PRAISE OF PAWS

THEY'RE A KNOCKOUT IN THE WILD AND YOU CAN MAKE THEM A KNOCKOUT IN YOUR GARDEN, TOO!

1 Bold and beautiful, mass plantings of distinctive kangaroo paws come alive during spring and summer. Don’t have room in your garden? Put them in pots instead.

Of all the unique and distinctive plants that make up the Australian native landscape, perhaps none is more intriguing than the kangaroo paw. Many natives defy the conventional flower arrangement of petals surrounding the central collection of stamens and stigma –and it’s this arrangement that makes them a standout. Paws have a particular floral structure that’s so architectural. So whether in a garden bed, a pot or as part of a flower arrangement, make them a pleasurable presence in your gardening life.

2 DRY GARDENS COME ALIVE when you put ‘Tequila Sunrise’ in the same bed as senecio. They naturally require the same sandy soil and light conditions.

3 STANDING TALL AND PROUD in a traditional border garden, kangaroo paws fit in nicely with Marguerite daisies, coreopsis and achillea.

4 LOOKING LIKE A TWO-TONED SUNSET ‘Bush Surprise’ is one of the most popular varieties.

THEY’VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY!