Fairy duster

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade but flowers less freely.

Water

Low once established; water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry between waterings.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gravelly or rocky soil; tolerates alkaline soil but struggles in wet, heavy clay.

Height

2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m)

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Flowers

Pale to deep pink flowers, made up of long showy stamens, mainly in spring; scattered repeat flowering can follow summer rain or watering.

Foliage

Small, finely divided, grey-green leaves with tiny paired leaflets; semi-evergreen in mild conditions, but may lose leaves during cold or drought.

Growth

Moderate with warmth and occasional deep watering; slower in very dry conditions.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.8 ft (0.56 m)

3. After 2 years

   2 ft (0.62 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.2 ft (0.68 m)

5. After 5 years

   2.7 ft (0.81 m)

About 7 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant after the main frost risk has passed, keeping the root crown level with the surrounding soil.
• Water new plants deeply, then let the root zone partly dry before watering again; reduce watering as they establish.
• Give established plants an occasional deep soak during prolonged drought if you want fuller foliage and repeat flowers.
• Avoid routine feeding; rich soil and excess nitrogen encourage leafy growth rather than flowers.
• Use a light gravel mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• For containers, use a gritty, free-draining mix and protect the pot from frost and prolonged winter rain.

Pruning. After the main spring flowering, lightly shorten wayward shoots if needed, preserving the natural spreading shape rather than shearing it into a ball. Remove frost-killed wood once new growth shows which stems are alive.

Late winter

Check drainage and keep sheltered container plants on the dry side, without letting the root ball become completely desiccated.

Spring

Plant once the main frost risk has passed and the soil is warming.

Late spring

After the main flowering flush, trim only stray shoots and remove confirmed frost damage.

Summer

Water new plants as the soil dries; give established shrubs only occasional deep watering during extended dry spells.

Autumn

Reduce watering as temperatures fall and collect dry seed pods before they split if you want to propagate.

Winter

Move container plants into bright, frost-free shelter where outdoor winters are too cold or wet.

• Plant in loose groups among boulders and gravel, where its fine foliage softens hard surfaces.
• Use beside agaves and low-growing yuccas for a contrast between airy growth and bold leaves.
• Place near a sunny sitting area to watch visiting hummingbirds within their native range.
• Use along the front of a dry shrub border, allowing space for its naturally spreading branches.
• Grow in a well-drained patio container where winter protection is practical.

Garden styles it suits: Desert modern, Southwestern, Desert / xeriscape, Dry gravel garden, Wildlife garden and Pollinator garden.

Plant it with: Red yucca, Desert marigold, Blackfoot daisy, Parry's agave, Brittlebush and Autumn sage.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Its branching growth also offers cover for small desert wildlife.

• Root rot and decline in wet soil: improve drainage or relocate to a raised, gritty planting area, and stop frequent irrigation.
• Frost-damaged shoots: protect young plants during cold spells and wait for spring growth before cutting back dead wood.
• Sparse flowering in shade: move container plants into full sun or choose a sunnier position for new planting.
• Thin foliage or leaf drop during drought: this can be a normal survival response; give an occasional deep soak rather than frequent shallow watering.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people, but species-specific safety information is limited. No particular part is established as poisonous; nevertheless, do not treat the leaves, flowers, pods or seeds as food or allow pets to eat substantial amounts.

• Baja fairy duster (Calliandra californica)

  Usually taller and more upright, with bright red rather than pink flower stamens; it is also less cold tolerant.

• Pink powder puff (Calliandra haematocephala)

  A much larger tropical shrub with noticeably larger leaflets and larger, rounder flower heads.

Calliandra means 'beautiful stamens', referring to the showy flower threads that also give fairy duster its common name.

Propagation. Grow from seed in spring or early summer. Lightly nick the hard seed coat without damaging the inside, soak overnight, then sow in a warm, free-draining mix; seedlings vary in flower colour and growth habit.

Accepted botanical name

Calliandra eriophylla

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Arizona, California, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, New Mexico and Texas.

Measured

Soil pH 7 to 8.5. Average height 80 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.