Calliandra Species, Pompon, Red Powder Puff Tree
Calliandra haematocephala
Family: | Fabaceae (fab-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Calliandra (kal-ee-AN-druh) (Info) |
Species: | haematocephala (hee-mat-oh-SEF-uh-luh) (Info) |
Synonym: | Calliandra inaequilatera |

Category:
Shrubs
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Evergreen
Foliage Color:
Height:
12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)
Spacing:
10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Can be grown as an annual
Suitable for growing in containers
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Red
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From herbaceous stem cuttings
From woody stem cuttings
From seed; germinate in a damp paper towel
Seed Collecting:
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Vincent, Alabama
Tucson, Arizona
Arcadia, California
El Cajon, California
North Hollywood, California
Palm Springs, California(3 reports)
Rancho Mirage, California
Rancho Santa Margarita, California
San Diego, California(2 reports)
Spring Valley, California
Archer, Florida
Bartow, Florida
Big Pine Key, Florida
Bonita Springs, Florida
Brooksville, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Deland, Florida
Delray Beach, Florida
Deltona, Florida(2 reports)
Eustis, Florida
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Georgetown, Florida
Grant, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jupiter, Florida
Lady Lake, Florida
Lake Wales, Florida
Land O Lakes, Florida
Lecanto, Florida
Lutz, Florida
Miami, Florida
North Fort Myers, Florida
Oldsmar, Florida
Orange Park, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Palm Coast, Florida
Pompano Beach, Florida(2 reports)
Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Rockledge, Florida
Saint Cloud, Florida
Saint Petersburg, Florida(2 reports)
Sebastian, Florida
Sebring, Florida
Seffner, Florida
Tampa, Florida(2 reports)
Vero Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
Winter Park, Florida
Winter Springs, Florida
Pepeekeo, Hawaii
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Parkville, Maryland
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Waveland, Mississippi
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Grenoble, Rhône-Alpes
Baytown, Texas
Fulton, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Houston, Texas(4 reports)
Humble, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Spring, Texas
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Neutral | On Nov 14, 2016, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: There are over 140 different species of Calliandra, and all can be called red powder puffs. They all look similar, but they are not all alike. Some are drought tolerant and some are not, etc. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Jul 22, 2014, santamiller from San Antonio, TX wrote: In my 8b zone it does best in a pot and protected from very cold weather but I have one in the ground. It gets a few hours of afternoon sun. It is one of the last plants to make an appearance in the late spring, is a slow starter and doesn't begin to get buds and bloom until mid summer, but once it does it's always spectacular. Highly recommend, especially potted for much larger plant. |
Positive | 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. |
Neutral | On Mar 15, 2014, sc_ss from Hong Kong, The Family Name of the species should be: Fabaceae |
Positive | On Dec 16, 2012, AussieClem from Sydney, |
Positive | On Aug 20, 2012, gardenpackrat from Tampa, FL wrote: I am in zone 9 near Tampa, Fl. and have this plant, dwarf variety, in the ground in partial sun (am). It blooms almost nonstop and sets seed pods. The butterflies and hummingbirds love it too. It is near a window where I can enjoy the show! Some damage from cold but comes back fine. I love this plant! I have not tried propagating it from seed but am going to try. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On May 20, 2012, sunkissed from Winter Springs, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: I'm updating my review for this plant. This is the larger of the Powder puff's which I have both the Dwarf, and this plant. They are different and this larger doesn't start blooms until the winter, usually around December. This plant grows very tall and spreads wide, but will not tolerate below freezing temps, which will burn and ruin the flowers. It does come back after a hard freeze. I do have the smaller "Dwarf" powder puff and it blooms pretty much all year around. So if you want blooms all year, you need to look for the dwarf (Nana). Although the flowers on the large are so much more beautiful and if we have a mild winter it is spectacular in the garden. I wouldn't grow it any more north than zone 9b, or you'll be disappointed to lose the flowers when we get a cold snap. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Apr 22, 2012, HappyGardenerWI from Eau Claire WI & The Villages FL, WI (Zone 9a) wrote: In zone 9a, the shrub grows to about 6' and flowers profusely from mid-summer through the first freeze. It freezes to the ground but begins growing from the roots in March and reaches blooming size quickly. The flowers are a glorious red and attract butterflies. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Feb 6, 2012, margiew from Mataranka, I have a large old red powder puff. I have cut it back hard and it grew profusely and flowered all year. This year however there are no seeds forming after the flower is spent. I have grown some from seeds previously, no luck from cuttings. Can anybody tell me why. I live in a hot subtropical climate. |
Neutral | 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 |
Positive | On Aug 14, 2011, pniksch from Frisco, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: Great plant for a trellis. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Jul 22, 2010, HolyChickin from Fort Lauderdale, FL wrote: When I was a child, our next door neighbor had one of these trees. It was in the corner of their yard and some of the tree hung over into our yard. I remember playing under it and marveling at it's pretty red puffs. |
Neutral | 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.... |
Positive | On Jun 16, 2009, movewithmel from Houston, TX wrote: I live in Houston, TX, Zone 9, and bought this almost a year ago, maybe in the fall. It reminded me of a mimosa, and our neighbor had just cut his down. To him, it was invasive. To us, it was the great view out our dining window. The powder puff bush has grown at a rapid pace, and looks super healthy, but I have never, ever had a bloom. The tag on it when I bought it showed a pink flower, so I'm hoping it is pink, and said it was tropical. With our humidity, I thought it would thrive. Plus, I water regularly. Anyone have ideas as to why it hasn't bloomed yet, when the rest of my garden has been bursting with color since spring? It's in a sunny spot in front, so our dogs aren't eating the blooms. |
Positive | On May 23, 2009, gopita from Pflugerville, TX (Zone 8b) 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. |
Positive | On Jan 31, 2009, GAF9801 from Saint Cloud, FL wrote: Zone 9 - I LOVE my powder puff bushes. Mine grow happily receiving partial afternoon sun close to my house. They get rain runoff from the roof but other than natural rainwater, they are very drought tolerant. They bloom pretty much year round and bloom more heartily when they get rain. They require little or no care and have had no noticable pest issues in 4 years of growth. |
Neutral | 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. |
Positive | On Mar 7, 2007, Cambium from Lamar, AR (Zone 7b) wrote: Hubby & I went to Butterfly World this last weekend & it was consistently frequented by colorful finches & butterflies. |
Positive | On Jul 26, 2005, pickandplant from Deltona, FL wrote: This is a great plant, it is tough and bug resistant and very attractive. |
Positive | On Jun 11, 2005, JaxFlaGardener from Jacksonville, FL (Zone 8b) wrote: In my borderline Zone 8b/9a climate in NE Fla, this Calliandra dies back in winter with freezing temperatures, but rebounds in the Spring and begins to bloom around May. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Jul 26, 2004, bjhach from Fort Lauderdale, FL wrote: Plant responds with lots of blooms following a good watering. However, my dogs love to eat the powder puffs and my plants don't have flowers on them for long! (FYI...They've been eating them for a year and have never had a bad reaction.) |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Jul 23, 2003, Monocromatico from Rio de Janeiro, There´s a Red Power Puff near here that blooms constantly during the year. However, it never gets covered with flowers like other species. The folliage gives it a more smooth look than other Calliandras. |
Neutral | 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. |