Flora Great Southern WAAdenanthos obovatus (Basket Flower) Anigozanthos flavidus (Tall Kangaroo Paw) Anigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw) Banksia nutans var. cernuella Billardiera fusiformis (Australian Bluebell)

The Anigozanthos rufus is a beautiful iconic Australia plant, known commonly as the Red Kangaroo Paw. Other common names include Crimson Kangaroo Paw and Backdraft. It is a grass-like evergreen perennial, with green-grey flat, strappy leaves up to 28 cm long. The plant produces stunning looking red, purple, yellow tubular shape flowers, with a velvet-like texture, formed in dense heads at the end of the long stem.

Found growing in sandy soil, in seasonally wet areas growing, especially along the south coast and the Great Southern region.

Anigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Anigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Anigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Anigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Anigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Anigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Anigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Anigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Anigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham
Anigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw), Great Southern Region WA © Terry Dunham

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Phylum: Charophyta
  • Class: Equisetopsida
  • Subclass: Magnoliidae
  • Superorder: Lilianae
  • Order: Commelinales
  • Family: Haemodoraceae
  • Genus: Anigozanthos
  • Species: Anigozanthos rufus

Footnote & References

  1. Anigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw), Great Southern Region WA. Photographs © Terry Dunham
  2. Anigozanthos rufus Labill., Red Kangaroo Paw, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2915655
  3. Red Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos rufus), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/123204-Anigozanthos-rufus
  4. Anigozanthos rufus Labill., Red Kangaroo Paw, Western Australian Herbarium (1998–). Florabase—the Western Australian Flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/1415

Flora Great Southern WAAdenanthos obovatus (Basket Flower) Anigozanthos flavidus (Tall Kangaroo Paw) Anigozanthos rufus (Red Kangaroo Paw) Banksia nutans var. cernuella Billardiera fusiformis (Australian Bluebell)

Great Southern WAFlora

Western AustraliaThe Batavia Coast and Midwest WA Bungle Bungles – Purnululu National Park Great Southern WA Stirling Range National Park