Anigozanthos hybrid 'Bush Sunburst'

Kangaroo Paw ‘Bush Sunburst’

Botanical Name: Anigozanthos hybrid ‘Bush Sunburst’
Family: Haemodoraceae
Origin: Western Australia (cultivar selection)
Plant Type: Evergreen clump-forming perennial (rhizomatous)

Overview

‘Bush Sunburst’ is a vibrant, long-flowering kangaroo paw bred for strong colour and improved garden performance—ideal for Adelaide’s hot, dry Mediterranean climate. It forms tidy fans of mid-green strappy leaves and sends up striking orange–gold flower stems from spring through autumn, with repeated flushes in warm weather. Flowers are velvet-textured, highly nectar-rich, and brilliant for attracting honeyeaters and pollinators. A hardy, low-water perennial suited to borders, mass planting, gravel gardens, and feature pots. Leaves may take on soft copper or red tints in cold weather or dry periods, adding extra seasonal interest. While not fragrant, blooms have the typical mild earthy scent of kangaroo paws when handled.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.45–0.6 m H × 0.4–0.6 m W (foliage); flower stems to 0.8–1.2 m
• Growth Rate: 20-40 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Strappy mid-green leaves; may develop copper or reddish tints in winter/dryness
• Flowers: Bright orange–gold, velvet-textured blooms on upright stems; heaviest spring–summer, with autumn rebloom in SA
• Seasonal Interest: Evergreen clump with long flowering season and occasional winter foliage colour shifts
• Wildlife Value: Highly nectar-rich; attracts honeyeaters, bees and butterflies
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established; heat- and wind-tolerant; copes with second-line coastal exposure; light frost tolerant
• Planting Density: Borders: 3 per metre (≈30–40 cm centres). Mass planting: 40–60 cm apart. Pots: 30–40 cm diameter
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats & dogs (leaf hairs may irritate sensitive skin—gloves recommended)

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun for best flowering; tolerates light part shade
• Soil: Free-draining sandy or loamy soils; raised or mounded beds recommended on clay
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 2–3 weeks in summer (weekly in heatwaves); minimal winter watering
• Maintenance: Remove spent flower stems at the base; trim older leaves to rejuvenate clumps; apply low-phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring; divide clumps every 2–3 years
• Lifespan: 5–10+ years in well-drained sites
• Climate Zones: Excellent in Mediterranean and temperate SA; suited to Adelaide plains, foothills, and coastal suburbs
• Soil pH: Neutral to slightly acidic/alkaline (adaptable with good drainage)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Mass plant for a glowing band of orange–gold seasonal colour
• Sunny borders paired with grasses, grevillea and lomandra
• Feature clumps in gravel, native or contemporary low-water gardens
• Ideal for pots in courtyards and alfresco spaces
• Excellent cut flower variety (long-lasting stems)

Why You Will Love It

‘Bush Sunburst’ delivers intense, glowing colour for months, thrives in South Australia’s dry heat, and invites pollinators into the garden. With its tidy habit, hardy nature and minimal maintenance needs, it’s a standout performer in both native and modern Mediterranean landscapes.