Cat’s Paw

~ Anigozanthos humilis ~

HAEMODORACEAE

Cat’s Paw is one of eleven Anigozanthos species (aka Kangaroo Paws); all have these eccentric, felty tubular blooms that are like a velvet honeypot for birds. Thanks to what’s called camera trapping (which captures and documents the secret dramas that unfold between flora and fauna), Cat’s Paw has recently been seen flirting with a promiscuous pollinator, the Western Spine-bill (Acanthorhynchus superciliosus), throughout the Banksia woodlands of Noongar Country. Highlighting these relationships between bird and bloom is not just about my penchant for a feathered friend; it’s also about gaining a critical broader understanding of how environmental and anthropogenic changes affect our beloved wildflowers and the vital life that exists around them. It’s also extremely wonderful to imagine this very real world of ours interacting in seemingly magical ways.

WHERE TO LOOK

This Noongar resident is found within the floral hotspots of south-west Western Australia and is widespread in open forests in sandy soils. You’ll see it in the company of most of its Kangaroo Paw friends as well as Parrot Bush (see p. 137).

Locations → WA: Stirling Range National Park, Mount Lindesay Summit Walk, Badgingarra National Park, Lesueur National Park and Kalbarri National Park.

FEATURES

Cat’s Paw features light-green clumping foliage growing 20cm tall and forming a rosette around the base of its 30cm flower stem. These leaves are sickle shaped and hairy edged, and appear to be not quite fully creased down their centre. Cat’s Paw’s curious velvety and tubular blooms measure 5cm tall and are yellow with a light airbrushing of red or salmon. Its fruit is a three-celled capsule containing brown-black seeds.

FLOWERING SEASON

Winter and spring → Cat’s Paw can be seen from July to October. It sometimes dies back to underground through summer.

PLANTING

The plant is widely cultivated and is able to tolerate hot and humid climates, but does not appreciate cold. Seeds are available and require no special pre-treatment. Propagate through clump division of healthy mature plants after flowering.