Red Fairy Duster, Baja Fairy Duster

Frost Tolerance: Leaf damage below 25°F (-4°C), often killed below 20°F (-7°C)

Sun Exposure: Full sun

Origin: Mexico (Baja California - Cape Region)

Growth Habits: Semi evergreen shrub, 4 to 6 feet tall (1.2-1.8 m), 5 feet wide (1.5 m); bipinnate leaves, leaflets slightly overlapping

Watering Needs: No watering really needed, but some water in summer, will keep it blooming. Good drainage needed.

Propagation: Easier from seeds, cuttings are also possible

There are about 130 species of Calliandras, coming from the Americas, Madagascar and India.

Blooming Habits:
The Red Fairy Duster has interesting flower clusters with red stamens looking like a miniature duster, in February to April. Some watering will keep it blooming until September.

Fruiting Habits:
Flattened pods with thickened margins, opening explosively from the tip to the base, ejecting the seeds several yards away.

Culture:
Beware of mealy bugs and mites.

Propagation:
The seed pods open violently when they are ripe, throwing the seeds away. Harvesting the seeds involves getting them just before they are going to open, or using an ad-hoc contraption to retain the seeds when the pod opens. Picking up the pods early involves the risk that the seeds might not be completely ripe. It is a good idea to chip or soak the seeds to speed up germination.