Paws-itively Stunning: Kangaroo Paws 🐾🌿

Native to Australia, Anigozanthos get their common name Kangaroo Paws from the quirky shape of their tubular flowers, which resemble the paw of a kangaroo. Each flower is covered in soft, velvety fuzz and curls in a way that says, "Look at me!"

These perennial beauties are part of the Haemodoraceae family. They thrive in warm, dry climates and are loved by gardeners, landscapers, and hummingbirds alike.

If you're into color, prepare yourself. Kangaroo paws come in an eye-popping range of shades, like:

❤️ Big Red – For a blast of excitement and energy.

💛 Golden Yellow – Brilliance that radiates like sunshine.

❤️ Bush Pearl – A romantic pink that’s soft but never shy.

💚 Green Jade – An earthy green with a futuristic vibe.

🧡 Orange – Like a sunset wrapped in velvet.

💜 Purple – For a little touch of mystery.

Kangaroo paws aren’t just pretty… they're practical. Their tubular flowers are made for birds and bees, making them a magnet for pollinators. Hummingbirds and bees, all flock to these fuzzy flowers like it's a buffet.

Don’t let their dazzling appearance fool you, kangaroo paws are hardy. They love full sun, tolerate drought, and once established, need minimal pampering. Just a little pruning and they’re off blooming again.

🌱 Growing Tips for Pawesome Success

• Sunshine? Yes please! These are full-sun divas. 
• Water? Keep it moderate. They like to dry out a bit between drinks. 
• Soil? Think sandy and well-drained. No soggy paws! 
• Pruning? Be bold. Cut back the old flower stalks to encourage more blooming.

So next time you're looking for something a little wild, and a whole lot wonderful… make a little room for kangaroo paws – they’re paws-itively stunning!

Grevillea Flowers

Grevillea flowers or also nicknamed Spiderman + Bush Lollies bloom pretty much year-round here on the farm putting on a show month after month. They’re what we call “Australian native superstars”. These come-back friends – are fuss-free sun-lovers that stand up to the rising mercury and deliver some much-needed color - especially during the summer. These lollipop-like flowers provide masses of unique blooms in an array of wonderful colors, and their texture, can only be matched by the Leucospermum - pincushion.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, this Australian Proteaceae genus – named in honor of Charles Francis Greville - is now being grown in many parts of the world. There are over a hundred species and cultivars being grown in the United States, with the majority found here in California. Grevilleas are also grown in South Africa, Mediterranean Europe, South Asia and of course, extensively in Australia where over three hundred species have been identified.

Luckily, now is the perfect time to think about adding some of these fun and awe-inspiring blooms to your summer designs. Read on to learn about some of our favorites.

'Sylvia' - Large dense, deep red flower spikes are produced on the plant for most of the year.

'Honey Gem' - A fabulous of cultivar G. banksii and G. pteridifolia. Flowers are apricot with orange-yellow style and the leaves have silvery reverse.

“Moonlight’ - This popular variety has attractive deeply divided foliage and bears beautiful, lemon-yellow toothbrush flowers.

'Misty Pink' A vigorous and hardy free flowering shrub with grayish leaves. Spectacular pink and cream 6 to 7” blooms in terminal clusters of six or more.

'Superb' - One of the best bloomers with pink, peach and creamy colored flowers.

Grevillea Flowers

Now, about mid-summer, is the time we anticipate the inevitable dog days to come as we watch our pincushion fields go barren and eagerly wait for protea season. However, the warm weather is no match for Grevillea flowers, they’re fuss-free sun-lovers that stand up to the rising mercury and add some much-needed color during this transitional period. These lollipop-like flowers, also referred to as Bush Lollies, Bush Toothbrush and Spiderman, provide masses of summery blooms that add, color, and fabulous texture in and out of the fields. Their popularity comes from their willingness to flower and flower. Here are just a few of the varieties being harvested.

‘Moonlight’ This popular variety has attractive deeply divided foliage and bears beautiful, lemon-yellow toothbrush flowers.

'Honey Gem' A fabulous of cultivar G. banksii and G. pteridifolia. Flowers are apricot with orange-yellow style and the leaves have silvery reverse.

'Misty Pink' A vigorous and hardy free flowering shrub with grayish leaves. Spectacular pink and cream 6 to 7” blooms in terminal clusters of six or more.

'Superb' One of the best bloomers with pink, peach and creamy colored flowers.

'Sylvia' Large dense, deep red flower spikes are produced on the plant for most of the year.

Can you picture these fabulous flowers in your garden or favorite arrangement?