Anigozanthos 'Bush Ember' (Dwarf Orange Kangaroo Paw) - Small perennial plant with narrow linear light green foliage and flame-colored, woolly flowers on 1-2 foot tall stems in the spring and summer. Excellent as a container plant.
Plant in a sunny and open position in the garden in well drained soils. Irrigate regularly and fertilize in spring (not heavily and keep (P) phosphorus on the low side). Hardy to about 25-30 degrees F. Hardy to about 20-25 degrees F. Fans only flower once and need to be cleaned out after the flowering period so remove the old leaves down to as low as possible at the end of a season. Care should be exercised that the new emerging fans are not damaged. Treat for snails. This is is a good garden subject or container plant.
The genus was first named by the French botanist Jacques Labillardière 1800 when he collected and described the type species, Anigozanthos rufus, which he had collected during the d'Entrecasteaux expedition to Southwest Australia in 1792 though he did not provide a meaning for this name in his description. Several botanical texts list it as a combination of the Greek words 'anoigo' meaning "to expand" and 'anthos' meaning a "flower" which would be in reference to the flower being split but others speculated it to be the combination of the Greek words 'anisos' meaning "unequal" and 'anthos' meaning a "flower" in reference to the irregular corolla.
Anigozanthos 'Bush Ember' is a hybrid between Anigozanthos humilis and A. flavidus that likely was the result of hybridizing work done by Professor Merv Turner of Monbulk, Victoria who first marketed these hybrids at Bush Gems Nursery in partnership with Biotech Plants. It received Breeder Rights protection in Australia in 1994 after Turner's passing. Although not as long lived as the larger hybrids this plant has proven more durable that many other dwarf cultivars.
The information about Anigozanthos 'Bush Ember' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |