What’s Blooming in Paradise: Plant Subject: Powder Puff (Calliandra haematocephala)
First impression: Large clusters of red wispy hairs too numerous to count. I could mistakenly think these flowers were bottlebrush tree mutants, but the blooms are shaped like pompoms. This bushy multi-stemmed shrub has oodles of light green to reddish bipinnate leaves and pea pods. I detect no fragrance, but the bees are in a holding pattern for the sweet nectar. I can’t remember when this superstar was without flowers. Wow — what a gardener’s dream come true! You can find this never-ending floral display at the Botanical Gardens of the Sanibel Moorings.
Upon further investigation: The Powder Puff species’ name haematocephala means Redhead and is a nonnative who hails from Mexico and Honduras. It is among my most asked about “What is this?” plant.
The flower’s puffs are super thin bright red tips graduating to creamy colored bases of filaments clustered together in the shape of a woman’s powder puff. Pre-bloom resembles a red raspberry which will soon explode into the unique flower. Being numerous, ever-blooming, and dense, they become one of the hard working stars in our garden.
The wispy leaves are fern-like and small but very dense in greens and reds. Seed pods look like pea pods; starting out green and tuning a lovely coffee color. It can be planted alone or grouped together. Mature height can be 8-14 feet or request a dwarf variety (Calliandra emarginata), which only gets 3-5 feet tall. We also have planted an unusual snowball white variety called alba.
All varieties are multi-trunked and have a natural upright bushy-like shape. Easy to care for, I shape and prune only to fit the space needed. This sun to partial-shade lover needs good drainage and regular watering to stay healthy. When introducing new foliage in your garden, here are a few suggestions for success. Remember, your plants whether exotic or native need initial attentive care for a healthy beginning. Plant in a hole dug a little larger than the root ball. The most common planting error is placing your new addition too deep. Always plant to the level your plant was in the container or higher. The trunk is extremely sensitive, and planting too deeply will cause root suffocation, nutritional deficiencies, root-rot disease and, frequently, loss of your plant.
Once planted, I like to loosen the dirt around the hole gently with my shovel. This will allow water to seep around your new plant and invite the roots to grow out. Watering is essential to establish your newbie. Newly planted landscape needs to be mulched and receive daily watering for approximately 2 to 3 weeks. Once they are established, supplemental watering might be needed when the plant exhibits that weeping quality, telling you that it’s thirsty. At any stage of growth of your Powder Puff, you can expect pollinators and people to flock to its blooms!
Pros:
Always blooming
Natural shape
Drought tolerant
You gotta have at least one
Pollinators love it
Red and pinks and white color choices
Mild salt tolerant
Non-invasive
Will always be able to fix your shiny nose
Holds a natural shape
Hard working and looks good but not a Diva!
Cons:
Cold sensitive
Can look messy with spent blooms
Blooming brings in the pollinators
Count your flowers, neighbors may steal
Non-native.
Conclusion: You’re not gonna believe this pouf of a flower. Go ahead and touch it. Is it a REAL flower?
You betcha! So many blossomssighhhhthere’s never enough time in our tropical, eye-catching garden. Don’t wanna miss this bloomer!