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Calliandra surinamensis
Also called Pink Powder Puff, Suriname Stickpea
In Singapore: Powder Puff Plant, Powderpuff Plant, Pink Tassel-flower, Pink Powder-puff (Grown in Singapore)
Surinamese stickpea is a low, spreading evergreen shrub or small multi-trunked tree from tropical South America, grown for its feathery leaves and pink powder-puff flowers. It is easy to grow in warm, frost-free conditions with good drainage and sun, and it tolerates dry spells well.
Calliandra surinamensis is a low branching evergreen tropical shrub native to tropical South America that is named after Suriname, a country in northern South America. Common names include Pink powder puff, Pompon De Marin, Surinam powderpuff and Surinamese stickpea.
In cultivation, Calliandra surinamensis thrives in full sun to partial shade on a range of well‑drained soils, shows high drought tolerance, and once established requires little special care beyond occasional pruning to control its size and shape. The species can be cultivated as a tall (1.5–1.8 m) flowering hedge or as a small specimen tree with lower branches removed. When pruned as a tree, it may reach up to 4.5 m (15 ft) in height, with long, arching branches forming an attractive canopy suitable for patios or container plantings.
According to the University of Florida, it typically has non‑problematic surface roots, offers winter interest due to its distinctive form and persistent fruits, is not considered an outstanding tree, and shows general resistance to pests, with no entries found for invasive potential. It typically develops multiple trunks and low‑branching, drooping branches that are not particularly showy; the bark is thin and may be easily damaged, and occasional pruning is recommended to develop a strong structure. Propagation is by seed or cuttings.
The plant is native to northern South America in countries such as, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil West-Central, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.
Calliandra angustifolia · Tabardillo · Fairyduster · Stickpea · Dwarf stickpea · Pink Powderpuff
[Contains information from Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Heritage Trees from data.gov.sg (National Parks Board), made available under the terms of the Singapore Open Data Licence version 1.0]
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Calliandra surinamensis 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.
