Extend blooming period by cutting out spent flower stalks as low as possible. Pruning them right when flowers begin to decline rather then waiting for them to fully dry out will keep plants blooming longer. A careful examination will show that leaves grow in groups in “fans.” Since each fan only flowers once, a good maintenance option is to remove the entire fan of leaves associated with each flower stem when the stem is being cut off. Feel free to cut or pull any dead dried leaves while you are at it. Taller varieties may benefit from staking flower stalks if you want them to remain upright (S). After the bloom season, cut back plants relative significantly by doing the following: remove any leaves showing brown (even just tips) all the way to the base of the plant, being careful not to damage any emerging new leaf fans. Also cut back any fans that have flowered, but it is best to leave about 1/3 of the mature leaves in addition to the newly emerging ones (12). Remove any dead foliage in the winter (D). Many varieties of Kangaroo Paws are often relatively short lived in the garden, often lasting only 3-5 years without careful attention and dividing (13). However, many of the larger named cultivars available in our area tend to be longer lived if grown well. Dwarf varieties especially tend to be short lived, with larger varieties tending to be longer lived in cultivation in our area (S). Dividing clumps and replanting every few years will help maintain vigor and yield new plants. Sometimes black spots or black areas appear on leaves, usually concentrated near leaf tips. These areas look black, as opposed to the brown of dying leaves. This is Black Ink Spot disease, a fungal disease which is common on Kangaroo Paw, especially on certain varieties. If you see this on a nursery plant, do not buy it. Beyond that, if you have it, maintain good air circulation around plants by keeping up with pruning. It is also best to avoid directly wetting foliage if possible (drip irrigation is a good option here). Heavily infested plants may need to be removed. When cutting out diseased leaves, be sure to do a careful job removing all infected leaf material down and around the base of the plant (14). References