Wikimedia Commons
Fabaceae
Red Powder Puff
Calliandra haematocephala
Beauty and togetherness.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Genus
- Calliandra
- Native to
- Bolivia, South America
- Bloom season
- Fall, Winter, Spring
- Type
- evergreen shrub to small tree
- Height
- 6-15 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic soil
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 9-11
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The showy red 'powder puff' flowers are actually dense clusters of long stamens, not petals, giving them their unique fluffy appearance.
- The genus name Calliandra comes from the Greek for 'beautiful stamens,' perfectly describing the spectacular flower structure.
- Flowers open gradually over several days, unfurling from tight buds into full hemispherical puffs up to 3 inches across.
- Hummingbirds and butterflies are strongly attracted to the nectar-rich flowers, making this a top wildlife garden plant.
- The compound leaves fold closed at night and during rain, a behavior called nyctinasty shared by many legume family plants.
Color meanings
0
solidarity
1
beauty
2
warmth