The Scarlet Macaw is a Legendary pet in Grow a Garden, introduced through the Paradise Egg during the Summer Update. While its ability to apply Verdant Mutation sounds promising at first glance, its effectiveness and farming value are often debated among advanced players.
In this guide, we’ll break down what the Scarlet Macaw actually does, how it triggers mutations, how to get it, and whether it’s a smart investment compared to other top-tier pets.
What is Scarlet Macaw in Grow a Garden?
Pet Name: Scarlet Macaw
Rarity: Legendary
Source: Paradise Egg
Egg Price: 50,000,000 Sheckles
Drop Rate: 8% chance per egg hatch
Passive Effect: Every 11.48 minutes, the pet attempts to apply Verdant Mutation to a random crop
Mutation Success Rate: 16.25%
Verdant Multiplier: 4x crop value
The Scarlet Macaw passively applies mutations, which sets it apart from most other pets—but it does so slowly and with low reliability.
How to Get Scarlet Macaw in Grow a Garden
Scarlet Macaw can only be obtained through the Paradise Egg, which is available at the Pet Egg Shop.
Paradise Egg Details:
Cost: 50 million Sheckles
Spawn Rate: 17% (Egg shop refreshes every 30 minutes)
Hatch Chance for Scarlet Macaw: 8%
Because of the high price and low drop rate, acquiring Scarlet Macaw can require several attempts, making it more suitable for experienced players with a strong income stream.
How Scarlet Macaw’s Verdant Mutation Works
Once hatched and placed on your plot, Scarlet Macaw will attempt to apply Verdant Mutation every 11.48 minutes to a random nearby plant.
Verdant Mutation Effects:
Changes crop visuals to a lush green style
Boosts sale value with a 4x multiplier
Happens passively—no need for player input
The success chance is only 16.25% per cycle
Unlike active gear or mutation-triggering tools, Scarlet Macaw does not require interaction but lacks precision or consistency. Most of its effectiveness relies on luck and long-term usage.
Paradisal Mutation: Combining Verdant with Sundried
Scarlet Macaw becomes more relevant when paired with Tanning Mirror during a Heatwave event.
How Paradisal Mutation Happens:
A crop must first receive Verdant Mutation from Scarlet Macaw
During a Heatwave, place a Tanning Mirror near the same crop
If the crop receives Sundried Mutation from the mirror, the two combine into Paradisal Mutation
Paradisal Mutation Multiplier: 18x crop value
Downsides:
Requires two separate systems: a pet and gear item
Requires event timing coordination
Cannot target crops manually
Rare to trigger consistently
Is Scarlet Macaw Worth It?
Pros:
Can generate high-value mutations passively
Enables access to Paradisal Mutation when combined with Tanning Mirror
Visually unique and satisfying when successful
Useful for decorative or prestige farms
Cons:
Long cooldown and low success rate
Requires Paradise Egg, which is expensive and slow to obtain
Random targeting reduces efficiency
Inferior to other farming pets like:
Raccoon (fruit duplication)
Dragonfly (growth boost)
Mimic Octopus (copies multiple pets’ abilities)
Scarlet Macaw is often considered a collector’s pet, better suited for those who want rare visuals rather than high-yield farming efficiency.
Final Thoughts
The Scarlet Macaw in Grow a Garden is a unique but niche Legendary pet with the power to apply Verdant Mutation to random crops. When paired with a Tanning Mirror during a Heatwave, it can help create the rare Paradisal Mutation, which gives an 18x multiplier. However, its long activation timer, low success rate, and reliance on other tools and events make it a less practical choice for everyday farming.
For players who enjoy collecting rare pets or want to experiment with complex mutation setups, Scarlet Macaw can be fun and rewarding. But for those focused on profit, pets like Raccoon or Mimic Octopus offer more value and consistency.