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 to your garden. Foliage appears fern-like and delicate. 

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 below species descriptions for more growing information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Calliandra californica (Baja Fairy Duster)
This shrub grows best in zones 10-24 and is native to Baja California and Sonora, Mexico. Can get 5 feet tall and a little wider. Takes little to moderate water, and can bloom year round given the correct water amount.

Calliandra eriophylla (Fairy Duster, False Mesquite)
This plant is native to Southern California, Texas, and Baja California. 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 last longer with regular summer waterings. Grows best in zones 11-24.

​Calliandra 'Sierra Star'
Grows in zones 10-24, this hybrid between Calliandra californica and Calliandra eriophylla. Flowers are red and pop up randomly throughout the year. Reaches 4-5 feet tall and as wide. Densely branched.

Calliandra tweedii (Brazilian Flame Bush, Trinidad Flame Bush)
This is an evergreen shrub that grows best in zones 22-24, but can grow satisfactorily in zones 15-21 with appropriate protection. This plant is native to Brazil and Uruguay. Graceful habit up to 6-8 feet tall and wide. Fernlike 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. 

Caring for and pruning Calliandra shrubs

Calliandra are considered easy-care plants; they enjoy being planted in full sun conditions, and need a good amount of water to perform well. They also enjoy being provided with shelter. Plant these shrubs in spring or fall, either in the ground or in pots. 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. Provide these plants with adequate moisture in summertime, never allowing the soil to dry out. Dead or damaged wood should be pruned out after blooms; otherwise, not much pruning is needed for these shrubs. They usually live for about 10-15 years in favorable climates, and then need to be replaced.

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
  1. 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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. 
  2. 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.
  3. 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. 
  4. 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
  1. 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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
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Calliandra seed pods on the plant, ready to be harvested.
Calliandra seed pods and seeds.

Problems and Pests

The most common issues that arise with Calliandra plants are:
  • Aphids 
  • Whitefly
  • Scale Insects
For more information on these pests, including how to prevent and eradicate them, consult the links below:
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Gallery

Calliandra is at home in rock gardens amongst Cacti and other low-water plants.
Plant Calliandra near patios; their flowers are wonderful when admired at a close distance.
Fairy Duster looks great in natural, water-wise landscapes.

Videos

Calliandra plant care.
How to grow Calliandra from seed.
All about the Red Powder Puff plant.
All about Desert Fairy Duster.

Resources

Calliandra, A Delicate Plant
Wikipedia: Calliandra
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 211 - 212, Calliandra
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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