How to Prune Kangaroo Paw Plants: Timing, Tools & Healthy Regrowth

Pruning kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos) is more than cosmetic—it’s essential maintenance that keeps the plant vigorous, disease-free, and flowering year after year. Correct cutting encourages new shoots from the rhizome and prevents old stalks from draining energy from next season’s blooms.

Why Pruning Matters

Kangaroo paw plants flower on tall stalks that rise from underground rhizomes. Once these stalks finish blooming, they die back naturally. Leaving them in place traps moisture and invites fungal infection such as ink spot disease. Cutting them off cleanly signals the plant to divert its nutrients back into rhizome growth and new leaves.

Best Time to Prune

Major Pruning: Late summer to early autumn, right after the final flowers fade.
Light Deadheading: Throughout spring and summer to remove individual spent stalks and encourage repeat blooms.
Winter Cleanup: Trim damaged or blackened leaves to improve airflow and appearance before new growth starts in spring.

Avoid pruning in the middle of active blooming—cutting fresh stalks early reduces total flower yield. Wait until the entire stem turns brown before removing it.

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Step-by-Step Kangaroo Paw Pruning Guide

Prepare Tools: Use sharp, clean secateurs or garden shears. Disinfect blades with diluted methylated spirits to prevent disease spread.
Locate Old Stalks: Identify stalks that have completely finished flowering. They’ll appear dry, brown, and may feel hollow.
Cut to the Base: Follow each stalk down to ground level and cut cleanly just above the crown—removing the entire stem.
Remove Spent Leaves: Trim away yellow or damaged leaves around the base to open airflow and reduce fungal risk.
Clean the Area: Collect debris and dispose of it—do not compost diseased foliage as fungal spores can persist.

Post-Pruning After-Care

After pruning, water the plant deeply to help the rhizomes recover. Apply a light feed of CompleteGrow Cactus & Succulent Plant Food Fertiliser Concentrate (2-7-7)—its low phosphorus and high potassium ratio promote strong rhizome regrowth and support fresh flowering shoots. Within a few weeks, you’ll see new leaf fans emerging from the crown.

In dense plantings, thinning out old fans during pruning keeps clumps manageable and prevents crowding, which improves airflow and reduces fungal infection risk.

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Seasonal Maintenance Routine

Spring: Lightly deadhead fading stalks; inspect for fungal spotting.
Summer: Continue removing spent stems; keep foliage dry between waterings.
Autumn: Major prune to ground level; feed with 2-7-7 to rebuild energy.
Winter: Minimal water; trim frost damage only; wait for spring regrowth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far back should I cut? Cut spent flower stalks right down to the base of the plant, just above soil level.

Can I cut green stalks? Only if they’re broken or diseased. Cutting healthy stalks early will shorten flowering time.

What happens if I don’t prune? Old stalks rot, trapping moisture and spreading fungus that weakens the rhizome and stunts new growth.

Should I feed after pruning? Yes—apply a diluted low-phosphorus fertiliser like CompleteGrow Cactus & Succulent Plant Food (2-7-7) to support regrowth.

Final Recommendation

Pruning kangaroo paw at the right time keeps plants compact, disease-free, and reliably flowering each season. Combine clean pruning with gentle feeding from CompleteGrow’s Cactus & Succulent Plant Food Fertiliser Concentrate (2-7-7) for powerful recovery and consistent colour in every bloom cycle.