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Calliandra haematocephala
Also called Powderpuff Tree, Red Powder Puff, Blood Red Tassel Flower, Powder Puff Tree, Pink Powder Puff, Scarlet Powder Puff
Calliandra haematocephala is a fast-growing, spreading shrub or small tree from Bolivia, grown for its red powder-puff flowers. It needs warmth and full sun, and it is frost-tender.
Calliandra haematocephala, the red powder puff, is a species of flowering plants of the genus Calliandra in the family Fabaceae native to Bolivia. In its native habitat it typically grows to about 3–4.5 m (10–15 ft) tall and is widely cultivated as an ornamental flowering shrub in warm climates, where it can grow outdoors year-round.
The plant prefers full sun, although it can handle some shade throughout the day, particularly in warmer climates. It cannot withstand frost. It can be grown indoor if trimmed and grown in a pot but it will be best if it grows outside in a warm climate. This species reproduces solely by seed, which is usually spread by water and through the dumping of garden waste. 'Red powderpuff' is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in south-eastern Queensland. A white-flowered variety, Calliandra haematocephala ‘Alba’, is also commonly grown in the region. No significant insect or disease issues are known, though caterpillars, spider mites, and aphids may occasionally occur.
Both the red- and white-flowered forms have begun to escape cultivation and become naturalised in parts of south-eastern Queensland. The species frequently self-seeds in gardens near cultivated plants and has been recorded spreading along waterways in Brisbane, including Ithaca Creek, Enoggera Creek, and Kedron Brook, as well as in disturbed native flora in coastal areas such as Macleay Island in Moreton Bay.
Calliandra angustifolia · Tabardillo · Fairyduster · Dwarf stickpea · Surinamese stickpea · Pink Powderpuff
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Calliandra haematocephala by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
