Kangaroo paw
I found this little gem in a hardware garden centre last year...completely bursting at the seams in a 100 mm pot.
I rescued the poor thing, for next to nothing, brought it home and set it free. Dividing it into about a dozen plants, with plenty of room to breath, it's now thriving and producing these magnificent, velvety-green blooms, which appear mainly in spring and attract honey-eating birds.
The foliage isn't the usual flat, strappy-leaf of Kangaroo paws, its grey green leaves are more needle-like and quite short at about 30 cm.
Preferring well drained soil in an open sunny position, 'Green Imp' is tolerant of light frosts and has low water requirements once established.
I've moved these pots around a bit, trying to keep them out of reach of pesky browses...the buggers gobble up as much of the foliage as they can, then nip off the flowers and just leave them there! I say if you're going to nip off such an amazing flower for a nibble...finish the bloody thing!
