PlantFiles: Pink Powderpuff
Calliandra emarginata

My landscaper planted a row of these next to our house; despite much fertilizing they have withered, put out almost no new leaves and few flowers. Finally I got a soaker hose and have been watering them almost daily. There is already a major difference with new growth emerging after about six months of dormancy. I think the Florida drought was a problem despite irrigation. They clearly need lots of water!

I started this plant from seed in late winter 2005. As of today , April 17, 2007 it is all of 8 inches tall and has flowered for the first time. Since I am in zone 6 I have to grow it in a container and overwinter it inside but it is so cute that it is worth it. I also have to C. californicas that I started from seed last year but have not yet started to bloom.

I purchased this as a "Dwarf Powderpuff" for a small terrarium. No sooner did I get it home and place it in a terrarium, located in a sunroom, than the leaves started growing from a length of a half inch to over 2 inches in length. Since the plant is crowding the terrarium, I will have to repot it and try it without the terrarium.

Large calliandra with relatively large leaves and flowers, from southern Mexico and central America. Looks a lot like Calliandra haematocephala. The one I saw had pink flowers, though.