Calliandra

Calliandra is a genus of about 200 species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, subfamily Mimosoideae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of southern Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas. The genus comprises herbaceous perennial plants, shrubs and rarely small trees growing 0.5-6 m tall, with bipinnate leaves.

The flowers have numerous long slender stamens, and are produced in cylindrical or globose inflorescences; the stamens give rise to the common name of Powder-puff/ Powder puff Plant and Fairy Duster.These plants flower all year round, but the best blooming is in spring and summer. They can be easily pruned.


Selected species
Calliandra eriophylla, commonly known as Fairy Duster, is a low spreading shrub which is native to deserts and arid grasslands in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas and Mexico.
The flowers, which appear between late winter and late spring, have dense clusters of pale to deep pink stamens and are about 5 cm wide. The shrub is usually between 20 and 50 cm high and has bipinnate leaves.

Calliandra brevipes (Pink Powderpuff) is an attractive shrub with finely divided leaves and clusters of red powder-puff flowers. It is native to southeastern Brazil, Uruguay, and northern Argentina.

Calliandra californica (Baja fairy duster), is a shrub which is native to Mexico. The flowers, which appear in early summer, have clusters of red stamens. The shrub is usually between 0.6 and 1.8 metres in height and has bipinnate leaves.

Calliandra erubescens

Calliandra cruegeri

Calliandra guildingii

Calliandra purpurea

Calliandra riparia

Calliandra surinamensis

Calliandra peninsulari

Calliandra physocalyx

Calliandra foliolosa

Calliandra grandiflora

Calliandra chilensis

Calliandra conferta

Calliandra haematomma

Calliandra biflora

Calliandra houstoniana

Calliandra humilis

Calliandra inaequilatera

Calliandra macrocalyx

Calliandra macrocephala

Calliandra tweediei

Calliandra haematocephala

Calliandra bella

Calliandra harrisii

Calliandra parviflora

Calliandra parvifolia

Calliandra juzepczukii

Calliandra laxa

Calliandra tergemina

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