Friday, 28 August 2026

Kangaroo Paw, Western Australia

 The plant Kangaroo Paw is a native plant that you find growing in the Australian Bush in Western Australia.  The flower reflects a kangaroo paw hence it's name. A collection of colours of Kangaroo Paws [ here ] plus photos of the plant close up.  The colours are more intense in cooler climates.

These photos were taken by me not far from Ravensthorpe in Western Australia several years ago. I'm really enjoying looking at my past travels of Australia in our caravan and finding photos to share. 

The Kangaroo Paws like to grow in sandy soil slightly acidic so the air can get to the roots.




Salt bush growing in a similar area and the Indigenous Australians used saltbush as a versatile food, natural seasoning, and traditional medicine.  They roasted and ground the seeds to mix into damper (bush bread), used the salty leaves to wrap and flavour meats, and applied crushed leaves as a poultice to soothe burns, wounds, and skin sores.
Many farm animals, native wildlife, and insects eat saltbush which serves as a tough, salty food source in dry area - including sheep.




From Launceston to Ravensthorpe is 3,550 km, 44 hours and 9 minutes (2,205 miles)
Two maps as it gives better idea of the distance. You can see the marks on the map.

11 comments:

  1. Hello Margaret,
    The kangaroo paw and the saltbush are beautiful plants.
    I don't think the species occur in Europe.
    I wish you a very nice weekend.
    All the best, Irma

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  2. The plant is wonderful, Margaret, I haven't seen it yet... I like all the photos but the first one is the prettiest!

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  3. Margaret, Indigenous peoples are populations that have lived for millennia with nature, they are part of it, depended on it, and still depend on it. You show us this with what you tell about that salty shrub. Surely the meat from those sheep tastes really good nowadays.

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  4. The kangaroo paw and the salt bush looks beautiful. I have never seen them before.

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  5. Hi Margaret. I want some of those Kangaroo paws plants. They are gorgeous. It has always been my dream to visit this land. You are so fortunate to live there.

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  6. Interesting plants and landscapes! It looks completely different than here.

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  7. Gracias, amiga Margaret, por lo mucho que siempre nos enseñas sobre tu país, del que no recuerdo si te lo he comentado antes, pero Australia siempre me ha fascinado tanto por su fauna y flora, pero sobre todo por sus tradiciones.
    Nunca oí hablar de esas plantas tan bonitas como beneficiosas.
    Un cordial saludo.

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  8. I especially enjoyed this post because I have a Kangaroo Paw myself, although mine has to be content with life as a pot plant in Germany. Seeing your photographs of these beautiful plants growing naturally in the Western Australian bush is quite special for me. I am now hoping that I can get mine safely through our German winter indoors! I also enjoyed learning about the saltbush and its many traditional uses. Looking back through old travel photographs is such a lovely way of travelling once again, and your pictures give us the chance to come along with you.

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  9. Interessant diese Salzbusch eine sehr nützliche Pflanze.
    Gruß
    Noke

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  10. Hello Margaret,
    Great pictures. Wonderful shot 3 and 4.
    A wonderful area with a nice nature.

    About your answer on your previous post. I have the shots of the cruiseships on my blog.
    https://marcoalpha.blogspot.com/search/label/Cruise%20Schepen

    Many greetings,
    Marco

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  11. La zampa di canguro è davvero una pianta inaspettata con dei fiori dai colori accesi

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