Quick Reference
✅ Best companions: Grevillea, Callistemon, Sedum, Salvia, Agastache, Verbena bonariensis ☀️ Non-negotiable: Full sun (6+ hrs), sandy/well-drained soil, low-to-moderate water ❌ Avoid: Water-loving plants (ferns, impatiens, hostas) — they invite root rot and fungal disease 🪴 Pot minimum: 40 cm wide; use native potting mix + added grit 🌸 Flowering tip: Poor blooms = check sun first, drainage second
Data compiled from and expanded on this guide: what to plant with kangaroo paw.
| Plant Name | Type | Sun Requirement | Water Needs | Soil Preference | Max Height | Compatible with Kangaroo Paw? | Garden Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grevillea (dwarf vars.) | Native shrub | Full sun | Low | Sandy, well-drained | 1–2 m | ✅ Excellent | Structure + nectar | Attracts birds; drought-tolerant |
| Callistemon (dwarf) | Native shrub | Full sun | Low–Moderate | Sandy, well-drained | 1–3 m | ✅ Excellent | Structure + nectar | Bottlebrush flowers; good screen |
| Sedum (stonecrop) | Succulent | Full sun | Very low | Sandy/gravelly | 10–30 cm | ✅ Excellent | Ground cover | Low-growing; fills gaps without competing |
| Salvia (ornamental) | Perennial | Full sun | Low–Moderate | Well-drained | 60–120 cm | ✅ Excellent | Mid-layer colour | Long flowering; pollinator magnet |
| Agastache | Perennial | Full sun | Low | Well-drained | 60–90 cm | ✅ Excellent | Mid-layer vertical | Hummingbird/bee favourite; airy texture |
| Verbena bonariensis | Perennial | Full sun | Low–Moderate | Well-drained | 100–150 cm | ✅ Excellent | Height + trail | Airy stems; works in pots too |
| Echeveria | Succulent | Full sun | Very low | Sandy/gritty | 10–20 cm | ✅ Good | Ground texture | Rosette form; colour contrast |
| Westringia (Coastal Rosemary) | Native shrub | Full sun | Low | Sandy, well-drained | 1–2 m | ✅ Good | Border edging | Grey-green foliage contrast |
| Lomandra (mat rush) | Native grass | Full sun–Part shade | Low | Well-drained | 50–80 cm | ✅ Good | Textural underplanting | Tough; drought-hardy once established |
| Dianella (flax lily) | Native perennial | Full sun–Part shade | Low–Moderate | Well-drained | 50–100 cm | ✅ Good | Mid-layer filler | Blue berries; strappy leaf contrast |
| Erigeron (seaside daisy) | Perennial | Full sun | Low | Well-drained | 20–40 cm | ✅ Good | Soft edge softener | Trailing habit; good pot companion |
| Rosemary (prostrate) | Herb/shrub | Full sun | Low | Sandy, alkaline-tolerant | 30–60 cm | ✅ Good | Ground cover / edge | Aromatic; Mediterranean companion |
| Lavender | Perennial shrub | Full sun | Low | Well-drained, slightly alkaline | 40–80 cm | ✅ Good | Mid-layer fragrance | Note: prefers slightly higher pH than kangaroo paw — monitor |
| Gazania | Annual/Perennial | Full sun | Low | Sandy | 20–40 cm | ✅ Good | Low colour layer | Drought-tough; bold daisy flowers |
| Arctotis (African Daisy) | Perennial | Full sun | Low | Well-drained | 30–60 cm | ✅ Good | Colour filler | Similar water/sun profile |
| Scaevola (fan flower) | Native trailing | Full sun | Low–Moderate | Sandy, well-drained | 20–50 cm | ✅ Good | Trailing edge | Ideal pot companion; cascading habit |
| Hardenbergia | Native climber/trailer | Full sun–Part shade | Low | Well-drained | 2–4 m (climber) | ⚠️ Use with care | Vertical accent | Can compete if unchecked; fence/trellis use |
| Pennisetum (ornamental grass) | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Low–Moderate | Well-drained | 60–120 cm | ⚠️ Use with care | Textural contrast | Avoid varieties that spread aggressively |
| Pelargonium | Perennial | Full sun | Moderate | Well-drained | 30–60 cm | ⚠️ Conditional | Colour filler | Needs more water than kangaroo paw; monitor in dry periods |
| Hosta | Perennial | Shade | High | Moist, rich | 30–80 cm | ❌ Incompatible | — | Needs opposite conditions; will cause drainage problems |
| Impatiens | Annual | Shade–Part shade | High | Moist | 20–60 cm | ❌ Incompatible | — | Water needs clash; triggers root rot risk |
| Ferns (most varieties) | Fern | Shade–Part shade | High | Moist, humus-rich | Variable | ❌ Incompatible | — | Opposite soil and water needs |
| Hydrangea | Shrub | Part shade | High | Moist, acidic | 1–3 m | ❌ Incompatible | — | Water requirements far exceed kangaroo paw tolerance |
| Variety Type | Height | Best Use | Pot Minimum | Companion Scale | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwarf (e.g. 'Bush Baby') | 30–50 cm | Small pots, rockeries | 20–30 cm | Compact succulents, low sedum | Easiest to manage in mixed plantings |
| Miniature | 50–80 cm | Medium pots, borders | 40–50 cm | Trailing grevillea, verbena | Good layered pot display |
| Standard (dwarf form) | 80–120 cm | Garden beds, feature pots | 60 cm+ | Callistemon dwarfs, agastache | Most common landscape use |
| Tall standard | 1.2–2 m | Landscape feature, borders | Garden bed preferred | Grevillea, westringia, lomandra | Striking vertical element |
| Pot Size | Recommended Kangaroo Paw | Companion Plants | Watering Frequency (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (20–30 cm) | Dwarf varieties | Succulents, low sedum, echeveria | Every 10–14 days (dry out fully) |
| Medium (40–50 cm) | Miniature varieties | Trailing grevillea, verbena, scaevola | Every 7–10 days in summer |
| Large (60 cm+) | Standard in dwarf form | Callistemon dwarfs, agastache, dianella | Every 7 days in summer; less in winter |
| Design Style | Recommended Companions | Spacing (Kangaroo Paw) | Visual Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xeriscape / Dry Garden | Grevillea, sedum, gazania, westringia | 50–60 cm apart | Low-maintenance; silver + red palette |
| Native Australian Garden | Callistemon, lomandra, dianella, hardenbergia | 60–80 cm apart | Bird-friendly; textural layers |
| Mediterranean Border | Lavender, rosemary, salvia, arctotis | 50–60 cm apart | Fragrant; soft purple + red contrast |
| Modern Pot Display | Verbena, echeveria, scaevola, agastache | N/A (container) | Cascading + vertical; bold colour |
| Wildlife / Pollinator Garden | Grevillea, callistemon, agastache, salvia | 60–80 cm apart | Nectar-rich; multi-season bloom |
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow leaves | Overwatering or poor drainage | Add grit to soil; space watering further apart; check companion plants aren't increasing moisture |
| No flowers / few flowers | Insufficient sunlight | Move to full-sun position (6+ hrs); replace shading companions |
| Root rot | Waterlogged soil or incompatible wet-loving companions | Remove incompatible plants; improve drainage; repot with native mix + grit |
| Ink disease (black streaks) | Fungal — overly wet conditions | Increase plant spacing for airflow; reduce watering; remove affected foliage |
| Stunted growth | Compacted or clay-heavy soil | Amend with sand; use raised bed or pot with free-draining mix |
| Leggy/floppy stems | Shade or over-fertile soil | Move to full sun; avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers |
| Pests (aphids, scale) | Stressed plant + poor airflow | Improve spacing; use eco-oil spray; remove affected material |
Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos spp.) | Native to Western Australia | USDA Zones 9–11 | Genus Wikipedia: Anigozanthos