Red Powder Puff

On May 24, 2016, Willy_D from San Diego, CA wrote:

Love this plant because it thrives in drought without watering and takes full sun. Was already established when I moved here. Extra large plant though so choose a proper location.

On May 2, 2014, chrisdiamond from Jupiter, FL wrote:

Great plant here in S. Florida. Mainly seen as a large shrub. I bought 3 5x5 box trellised espaliers for a client for a small courtyard area I re-did. Gets about 2-3 hours of direct sun in winter andd about 4-5 in summer. The wiring was done to about 10-12 ft on this wall and in 4 months the 3 Calliandras are 90% filled in. It is such a great plant. We usually never have to worry about too cold of temps in S. Florida so these are fine in the landscape year round.

On Dec 16, 2012, AussieClem from Sydney,
Australia wrote:

On Aug 20, 2012, LeslieT from Bellaire, TX wrote:

I LOVE this plant. I grow it in a large container which I bring into a glass-roofed porch for winter in my Zone 9b area. If I water it with oxygenated-water (left-over from using our Lotus Sanitizing System in which we wash all our produce which is consumed raw), it blooms all winter inside! I move it outside at Easter where it gets morning sun, but afternoon shade. After a brief readjustment period, it's back in bloom. It comes in at Thanksgiving. I, therefore, get almost 12 months of bloom.

On Apr 29, 2012, silverlaker from Palm Springs, CA wrote:

I had never had one of these plants - and at the house I bought in Palm Springs (abandoned, scorched earth thanks to a year long foreclosure) there were two scraggly bushes.

In one year they have shot up to over ten feet in height and they are absolutely stunning.

The one thing I'd love to do is grow more of them as a hedge.
Does anyone know how to propagate this plant?

Thank you.

On Apr 19, 2012, theplayfulkitty from Winter Park, FL wrote:

A great buy of 3 bedraggled reduced specimens from a Home Depot. They have survived several hard frosts, and when they start blooming, it's nonstop. I keep them pruned to about 3' and they look great in a grouping of mixed height and colored perennials.

On Jan 3, 2012, jjb2408 from Marinette, WI wrote:

i bought this plant as a house plant noticed it losing it leaves since i have brought it in for the winter but then after looking at it closer it looks as though it has some type of bug there are little white web looking areas not sure how to treat it hoping not to lose the plant i just love it....wondering if anyone would have a suggestion

On Sep 10, 2010, moydokes from Waveland, MS wrote:

I purchased this plant about 4 months ago at a garden center in Houston and planted it in my yard (Waveland, MS). It was blooming when I bought it, and hasn't stopped since. I'm truly amazed! I have never owned a plant before that bloomed so profusely and continuously.

On Jun 13, 2010, digforrestdig from West Palm Beach, FL wrote:

When the government took 4 feet of our yard for the new sidewalk they planted these between the walk and fence. They have yet to really take off, but are looking healthy. The govt. tried growing a smaller less mature batch of Puffs before, but they all died because they planted them in Winter and there was no rain. I was hoping they were going to at least plant natives, but every1 so loves this tree maybe it will be ok....

On May 23, 2009, gopita from Ojai, CA (Zone 10a) wrote:

Love it! Nearly every morning bees and wasps cover the playful-looking Powderpuffs bordering my front walkway, and they are covered with so many bees that the buzzing sound is distinctly audible.

There are several large shrubs/small trees about 12' and they bloom year round much to my delight. According to the notes of the previous owner of my property, the Powderpuffs are about 15-years-old.

Connie (Zone 10a)

On Jul 11, 2008, Lily_love from Central, AL (Zone 7b) wrote:

I've this lovely tree as a container specimen. It needs winter protection here. Pot culture keep the tree relatively small for the past 2 years.

On Jul 26, 2005, pickandplant from Deltona, FL wrote:

This is a great plant, it is tough and bug resistant and very attractive.
It is so attractive that the butterflys and hummingbirds are flitting about its puff. Some seeds have sprouted that fell and germinated under the plant, I transplanted them into potting soil and they are doing great. I am planning to try different methods of propagation to see which will be the best.

On Jun 10, 2005, sdlady from San Diego, CA (Zone 11) wrote:

My row of shrubs, in the ground many years, has been sheared annually into a 6' hedge after the winter bloom period is over. Planted in a dry area on the side of my house, they are truly drought tolerant, subsisting on rain water only, which in coastal San Diego averages 11 inches per year between November and April. The plentiful watermelon red blooms are charming; the new growth a lovely bronze with a graceful arching form.

On May 1, 2004, martina from El Cajon, CA (Zone 10a) wrote:

Our Calliandra in So Cal (dry climate of E of San Diego) blooms best in winter (November till April) and at that time is really covered both with blooms and their less pretty spent brown dry remnants. Hummingbirds love it and it is fun to watch them feed (I am posting a photo of one). If Calliandra does best in humidity, it has clearly shifted its blooming time here to the wettest period since during the dry hot summer and fall it does not bloom at all (I see the difference from Florida humid tropical climate). Calliandra is rapidly growing and needs pruning to keep in check.

On Nov 9, 2001, Floridian from Lutz, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:

Calliandra haematocephala is a sub-tropical plant the family of which is native to the India, Mexico, Madagascar, South America and the United States. It is adaptable, but prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil. Does best with moderate humidity. This species is grown as a hedge or shrub in the landscape for its powder-puff-type flowers. Very attractive to bees and butterflies.