Jumping into flower

One of the most wonderful things about the Australian Garden at the moment are the spectacular Anigozanthos or Kangaroo paws in flower around the garden. 

Kangaroo paws are an iconic Australian native plant with distinctive flowers and a diversity of colours, from hot reds through to cool yellow-greens. Hotspots for Kangaroo paws in the Australian Garden are the margins of the Red Sand Garden and the Future Garden – be sure to bring in your camera, they are simply stunning.

Growing Tips: Kangaroo paws are amongst the most rewarding Australian natives to plant in home gardens as they are easy to grow with stunning results. Kangaroo paws grow from an underground rhizome and produce long strappy leaves and beautiful flowers on long stems during spring and summer. There are many new varieties of Kangaroo paws with a wide range of colours to choose from.

To get the best out of Kangaroo Paws in your garden, grow them in a position that offers full sun and well-drained soil. Kangaroo paws are drought tolerant but do require slightly more water while flowering and when they are establishing growth in their first summer.

Pruning Kangaroo paws back to ground level once they have finished flowering is important to keep them healthy.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is Still Growing

The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is still growing, with exciting new projects on the horizon including the extended Visitor Centre, second stage of the Australian Garden and newly-opened Woodland Picnic Area.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during these works and recognise that this may from time to time have an impact on visitor enjoyment of the Gardens. However, we are confident that visitors will still be inspired by this amazing Garden.

The Australian Garden is set to expand with the completion of Stage 2 scheduled for mid-2011. Features will include The Ian Potter Lakeside Precinct, Weird and Wonderful Garden, River Walk and much more.

The Visitor Centre

Work to expand the current Visitor Centre is already underway. The extended Visitor Centre will be open to visitors from spring 2009 and will include an auditorium for talks, workshops and displays, a private function room and an extended café.

The Gardens Shop 

At The Gardens Shop it will be business as usual. Browse through an exciting range of Australian Garden inspired products.


The Woodland Picnic Area

The Woodland Picnic Area is now open in the RBG Cranbourne bushland, providing a great play space for children, shelter, seats and free BBQ’s.