Featured Plant

Baja Fairy Duster, Calliandria californica

Location: East side flowerbed at Watson Technical Center. (Map)

Characteristics: As the common name suggests, the native range of this plant is Baja California and Mexico. It is very popular for landscaping in the Southwest, not only for it's beauty and growth habit, but also low pollen production. Allergy and asthma sufferers especially appreciate this characteristic. Fairy Duster and Powder Puff are two common names for this shrub in the Pea Family, Fabaceae (Leguminoseae). The genus name, Calliandria, means beautiful (callis) male (andro) in recognition of the scarlet stamen that extend well beyond the other floral parts and give the blooms the appearance of feather dusters or powder puffs. It grows to about five feet in both height and width. The plant’s natural vase-shape should be kept attractive with minimal pruning. This plant blooms almost year-round when planted in well-drained soil in a sunny location.

Finely divided pinnately compound leaves give the foliage a feathery appearance on this evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub. This plant can be used in many combinations with other plants in a landscape to create interesting texture contrasts. Fairy Duster is hardy to 20 degrees (Zone 8). Once established, it is drought-tolerant and needs to be watered only every two weeks in the summer and every month or two in the winter.

The seeds are produced in flat dehiscent¹ pods that are persistent and re-curved² after maturing and drying. As the pods, split the seeds are discharged explosively, so keep an eye on the pods as they mature in order to collect the seeds.

Baja Fairy Duster is attractive to bees, butterflies and other insects as well as hummingbirds. In its natural habitat it is browsed by deer and goats.

Landscape Tour Information: Skeet Powell Temple College Landscape Committee 2600 South First Street Temple, TX 76504 254-298-8690 1-800-460-4636

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