Anigozanthos flavidus Bush Bonanza

Anigozanthos Bush Bonanza ('Rambubona') is a variety with lemon-yellow or sun-yellow flowers of a unique Australian perennial that is better known as the Kangaroo Paw due to the structure of its inflorescences. Bush Bonanza is a recent selection with a compact, yet vigorous growth rate and abundant flowering. Above its lush foliage, floral stems adorned with flowers emerge, creating a sensation in the garden, in pots on a patio, or even in a bouquet. Unfortunately, Anigozanthos is not very hardy, with outdoor cultivation being reserved for the mildest regions.

Anigozanthos flavidus belongs to the Haemodoraceae family. The genus Anigozanthos is endemic to southwestern Western Australia and comprises 11 species, including flavidus (with yellow flowers), the most adaptable, robust, and cold-resistant, withstanding temperatures down to -5°C (23°F) for a short period. It is not demanding in terms of exposure and soil, although it prefers sun and well-drained soil, preferably sandy and humiferous. Its resistance to summer drought is commendable, but lack of water will dry up its flowering. It is an herbaceous perennial plant with a rhizome, which retains its growth throughout the year, even in winter. Its lifespan is relatively short, around 4 to 5 years: to ensure the longevity of the plant, division is necessary. 

Bush Bonanza is more compact and brightly coloured than the wild species. It forms a dense clump, reaching 30cm (12in) in height with its foliage, expanding through its rhizomes. Its leaves are sheathing and tightly imbricate at the base. They are narrow and erect, resembling those of an iris, but with a slightly duller shade of green. This variety blooms in spring, in May-June, and continues until the end of summer if the weather remains mild and the soil stays somewhat cool in July-August. In nature, the plant often undergoes a period of summer dormancy. When sheltered, Bush Bonanza is capable of flowering almost all year round. The hairy and branched floral stems reach approximately 60cm (24in) in height. In their upper part, curious clusters of woolly, bent tube-shaped flowers, measuring 3 to 5cm (1 to 2in) in length, rich in nectar, are borne on orange stems. In Australia, they are pollinated by birds. Capable of rapid regeneration after fire passes through its trailing rhizomes, Anigozanthos is among the plants that quickly recolonise burned lands.

Unique, exotic, and colourful, Anigozanthos Bush Bonanza is a highly decorative plant for a patio or balcony, suitable for overwintering in most of our regions. It is not difficult to cultivate and blooms for a long time with a little water and fertiliser. Coastal gardeners can plant it in a rockery or in a slightly raised bed where it will create a great effect, planted among low bushes or perennials that thrive in the same conditions. In this use, it can be planted with, for example, Beschorneria yuccoides, Hesperaloe parviflora, or phormiums. It forms an unexpected combination with Cosmos atrosanguineus, a shrubby artemisia, and Perovskia. In Australia, it is often planted in large borders, against walls, or along pathways. It could be paired with compact agapanthus and Walker's Low catmints, for example.