Calliandra

( kal - lee - AND - ruh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Powder-Puff, Powder-Puff Plant, and Fairy Duster, these shrubs enjoy full sun and have varying water needs, depending on the species grown. Blossoms look like feather dusters, similar to Callistemon, and will attract hummingbirds and other important pollinators to the garden. Foliage is green to greyish-green and appears fern-like and delicate. Use these shrubs in borders, as foreground plantings, to line walkways or driveways, or in containers as an accent plant for patios. Although these plants are generally safe, some species do have plant parts (namely flowers and seeds) that can be toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

Calliandra Species and Varietals

The genus Calliandra includes about 140 distinct species of shrubs, and is part of the family Fabaceae. Growing zones for Calliandra vary by species; see descriptions for more growing information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Calliandra californica (Baja Fairy Duster, Tabardillo, Zapotillo, Chuparosa)
This shrub grows best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunsset growing zones 10-24 and is native to Baja California and Sonora, Mexico. The species can reach 5 feet tall and a little wider at maturity. These shrubs take little to moderate water, and can bloom year round given the correct water amount. Flowers are most profuse in summertime. Foliage is ferny and green.

Calliandra eriophylla (Fairy Duster, False Mesquite, Mock Mesquite, Mesquitella)
This plant is native to Southern California, Texas, and Baja California. It has an open growth habit up to three feet tall and four to five feet wide. Flowers appear in clusters of pink with white stamens. No formal irrigation is needed for this plant, however blooms and leaves will last longer with regular summer waterings. This species is best in USDA hardiness zones 7b-11 or Sunset growing zones 11-24.

Calliandra haematocephala (Red Powder Puff, Powderpuff Tree)
This species forms a scrambling shrub or small tree with silky leaves and powder-puff dark crimson flowers. These plants grow quickly, but can be kept in check through regular prunings. Flowers are present from November through April. Flower buds resemble raspberries. Can be grown in a greenhouse, but will perform best when grown outdoors. Best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11.

Calliandra 'Sierra Star'
This hybrid variety grows well in USDA hardiness zones 8-10 or Sunset growing zones 10-24. It is the offspring of Calliandra californica and Calliandra eriophylla. Flowers are red and bloom randomly throughout the year. Individual plants reach up to 4-5 feet tall and as wide at maturity. Dense branching structure.

Calliandra surinamensis (Pink Powder Puff, Pompon de Marin, Surinam Powderpuff, Surinamese Stickpea)
This low-branching, tropical shrub is native to South America. It produces white and pink powder-puff flowers and reaches up to 10 feet tall when mature. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11.

Calliandra tweedii (Brazilian Flame Bush, Trinidad Flame Bush)
This is an evergreen shrub that grows best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 22-24. This species is native to Brazil and Uruguay. It has a graceful habit up to 6-8 feet tall and wide at maturity. Fernlike green leaves barely cover branches. Flowers cluster at branch tips and are scarlet red; they are highly attractive to hummingbirds. Blooms best in hot weather. Needs little to no water to perform well in the landscape.

Caring for Calliandra

Although these plants are generally considered safe, some species do have plant parts (namely flowers and seeds) that can be toxic to humans and pets if ingested. These plants can sometimes be found and purchased as starts from a reputable nursery or grown from seed. The best time of the year to plant Fairy Duster is in spring or fall. They appreciate a sheltered location that is free from drafty, cool air. Calliandra are considered easy-care plants; they enjoy being planted in full sun exposure, Ideally, they should be getting between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention.

Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Calliandra plants like to get deep, infrequent waterings but will struggle if soil is allowed to fully dry out. Make sure to water during extended periods of drought to promote growth and flowering. Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage after the blooming season has ended, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Calliandra, or Fairy Duster, usually live for about 10-15 years in favorable climates, and then need to be replaced.

Caring for Calliandra in Containers
If you live in an area with cold winters, it may be best to plant your Calliandra in a pot so you can bring it inside during the cooler months of the year. Choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Calliandra plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage after flowering ends. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot.

Propagation

Calliandra can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant.

Propagating Calliandra by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or summer, choose your plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 12 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip off all of the lower leaves, leaving the top two on the cutting. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in cool, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about 2 weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated Calliandra, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Calliandra by Seed

Keep in mind that the Calliandra plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. Once they have dried out and begun to split open on the plant, you can harvest the seeds inside. Harvest as many as you can, and place them in a bowl of warm water for 24 hours. They will probably not all sow, and the ones that do will be of varying characteristics, especially with hybrid-variety seeds. The more seeds you harvest and plant, the more chances you will have to get the resulting Calliandra you want.
Barely cover the seeds with planting medium (about 3/4 inch down) and keep the soil moist but not wet by spraying it with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 10-20 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home, either outdoors or inside as a house plant. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.