What are these plants? Post what you think. January 2 2026 and it is Friday.

plant number 1 what is it?

plant number 2 what is it?

Here we go 2026.  Here we go it is Friday, but it really feels like Monday.2026 get used to writing that year.  Friday Jan 2nd it is cold out this morning with a high of only 17F(-8C) High is only going to get to 20F(-7C) with clouds.  We might see a little sun today.  But wasn’t yesterday great when it was the clear, blue sky and lots of sun. At least, it isn’t moisture, snow or rain and the wind isn’t blowing hard.  Have a good day and it is Friday.  Stay warm, stay safe.
 
Australia family and friends for Saturday Jan 3. On the app says high of 87F(31C) and 45% rain.  If that was here in Iowa, it would be humid.  I will have to ask them if their Saturday is.  Stay cool, stay safe.
 
I will be doing this throughout my writing but giving you a quick quiz about identifying plants.  One Is from my pictures I took in Australia, and one is from the greenhouse.  I have been told they enjoy my newsy writing.  Good luck and I think you got this.

Picture one is Kangaroo paw.  Very common plant in Australia as they have many different colors and varieties.  I have some seeds I purchased here so I need to see if I can get them to grow.  Looks like a hard one to get to germinate.  But I do have the greenhouse, and I do have the time.  I have had a gardener ask about them, so I will see if I can grow. 

Picture two are petunias.  Petunias are popular ornamental plants with showy trumpet-shaped flowers. They come in many colors and varieties and can be grown in different settings.
Kangaroo paw, also known as sword lily, is native to Australia. It needs warm temperatures and is hardy to USDA zones 10 and 11, where it is a perennial. In cooler zones, it grows as an annual. It prefers full sun and moist, well-draining soil. These plants can grow up to 6 feet tall and have long leaves similar to daylilies and tubular, fuzzy flowers that give them their namesake paw-like appearance.
How to Grow Kangaroo Paw
Kangaroo paw grows best in USDA zones 10 or 11, where it will grow in the ground and come back year after year as a perennial. Otherwise, it's not difficult to grow as an annual. Here are the main care requirements for kangaroo paw:
Choose a sunny spot, ideally with six hours of direct sunlight or more.
Prepare soil that is moist but well-draining.
Water regularly, but do not let the plant sit in soggy soil, which can rot its roots.
Protect these plants from frost.
Fertilizing isn't generally necessary when growing kangaroo paw as an annual, but if you have it in the ground as a perennial, consider amending the soil with compost once a year at the beginning of the growing season.
Light
These plants prefer to grow in full sun. At least six hours of direct sunlight on most days will enable kangaroo paw plants to produce the best growth and blooms. They can even tolerate intense light from the hot afternoon sun. Insufficient light, on the other hand, can cause tall plants to flop over and lessen bloom production.
Soil
Sandy soil with a slightly acidic pH (5.8 to 6.5) is their preferred growth medium, but kangaroo paws can tolerate various soil types as long as there is good drainage.
Water
Although they have some drought tolerance, Kangaroo paw plants prefer moderate soil moisture. Soggy soil can cause root rot and kill the plants, so wait until the top couple of inches of soil are dry to the touch before watering. However, when most of the blooming occurs in the spring and summer, kangaroo paws appreciate some additional water.
Temperature and Humidity
These plants thrive in the heat, and frost can be fatal. They like temperatures between roughly 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They also naturally thrive in dry conditions but can tolerate some humidity, too.
Fertilizer
Kangaroo paw plants aren't heavy feeders, so regular fertilizing isn't necessary. In the spring, before the flower stalks appear, add a cup or two of compost to the soil to promote healthy growth.
Types of Kangaroo Paw
Kangaroo paw is an Anigozanthos species in the Haemodoraceae family. From the wild species, breeders have worked to create cultivars with increased disease resistance and showier flowers. Some popular kangaroo paw plants or lower classifications include:
Red and green kangaroo paw (A. manglesii): The floral emblem of Western Australia, this plant produces green and red flowers and stems.
Tall kangaroo paw (A. flavidus): This species features flowers that are usually yellow-green and grow to around six feet tall.
Little kangaroo paw (A. bicolor): This plant remains less than two feet tall and produces yellow-green and red flowers.
Dwarf kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos 'Bush Ranger'): This hybrid between A. humilis and A. flavidus has red flowers. It only grows to a width and height of one to two feet.
Pruning
Kangaroo paw plants respond well to heavy pruning. Cut back the plants—leaves, flower stalks, and all—to six inches above the soil line after the blooms have faded. Pruning will prevent old foliage from becoming diseased and promote denser growth. You also might be rewarded with a second, smaller flush of blooms toward the end of the growing season.
Propagating Kangaroo Paw
You can propagate the plants by division. Dividing plants every few years can also help promote healthy growth.
Remove the plant from the soil with a shovel. If it is too big and heavy to be lifted at once, cut apart the plant at the roots with a pointed shovel or a spade, then lift the sections out of the ground with a shovel.
Trim all the leaves to a height of about 12 inches using pruners or shears.
Replant each section in a new location. Keep the newly planted Kangaroo paws well-watered until you see new growth.
How to Grow Kangaroo Paws from Seed
If you're patient, you can propagate your kangaroo paw plants from seed planted in the spring.
Presoak seeds in hot water for two hours to soften the seed coat and increase the chances of germination.
Place them on warm, moist seed-starting soil.
Keep the soil moist, and don't give up on germination until at least six weeks have passed.
Potting and Repotting
To grow kangaroo paws in pots, choose a smaller dwarf species or hybrid. For container plants, use an all-purpose potting mix amended with a few handfuls of sand. This mimics the sandy soil in which kangaroo paws grow in their native Australia.
Once the roots have filled the pots, the plant needs repotting, which is best done in the spring. Either plant it in a larger pot that allows for growth or divide the rhizomes and replant them in several smaller pots, using a combination of potting mix and sand.
Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy until the plant shows some new growth, which is a sign that it is getting established. During that time, keep it in a bright location but out of strong sunlight. Once the plant is established, you can move the pot to its permanent location in full sun.
Overwintering
Kangaroo paws are cold-sensitive plants. Once the temperature falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, bring the pots inside to a bright location with as much light as possible. Keep the soil on the dry side without letting it dry out completely; water the plant occasionally.
Watering gradually increases in the late winter to early spring as the growing season restarts. When the temperatures consistently remain above 50 degrees F, move it back outside but keep it in a shady location away from direct sunlight for a couple of weeks. Let it gradually get used to outdoor sunlight; otherwise, the leaves might burn.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Although these plants have no serious problems with pests or diseases, watch your kangaroo paw plant for signs of ink spot disease. The fungus manifests itself as blackening of the leaves and stems. Remove diseased foliage, and aim to prevent the fungus by keeping plants in full sun with good air circulation and well-draining soil.
How to Get Kangaroo Paw to Bloom
Kangaroo paw plants should bloom readily if healthy and in optimal growing conditions. Though they can grow in partial sunlight, full sunlight (at least six direct hours of sun) will bring out the most flowers.
Bloom Time
These plants will bloom in the spring and offer their signature flowers into the fall.
How Long Does Kangaroo Paw Bloom?
Kangaroo paw plants bloom for many months, starting in late spring. They will put out more blooms if deadheaded regularly, and if you live in a perennial area, kangaroo paw plants will bloom year after year.
What Do Kangaroo Paw Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Kangaroo paw flowers look like an animal's fuzzy paw, hence the name. They are typically a red, yellow, or pinkish shade and do not offer much fragrance.
How to Encourage More Blooms
In addition to ensuring kangaroo paw plants get enough sunlight, you can offer them small amounts of regular fertilizer, which may encourage them to bloom more. Also, be sure to deadhead spent blooms.
Caring for Kangaroo Paw After It Blooms
Kangaroo paw plants bloom through fall, so their post-blooming season is winter. This is the ideal time to prune back the plant, promoting bushy, fresh growth in the spring.
Deadheading Kangaroo Paw Flowers
Deadhead spent kangaroo paw flowers by cutting just below the flowers with clean shears. Do this regularly, and the plant will put out more blooms until the winter months begin.
Taken from https://www.thespruce.com/kangaroo-paw-flowers-1315764
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse