Calliandra eriophylla     
Native fairy duster   
Fabaceae Family     

Form: low-growing shrub
Seasonality: evergreen, may drop leaflets in response to cold or drought stress
Size: 1-3ft, spread 3-4ft; moderate to slow growth rate
Leaves: bipinnately compound, 1-1.5in long 1/2in across; ferny leaflets
Flowers: whitish or pink loose puff shape; best bloom in early spring then sporadically
Fruit: dehiscent pods; shorter than C. californica, dispersed widely with strong popping
Stems/Trunks: not significant
Range/Origin: native to Tucson, W. Texas, Southern California, New Mexico; elevations of 1000-5000ft
Hardiness: to mid teens

Calliandra eriophylla

LANDSCAPE VALUE:

• informal hedge
• medians (size is well constrained)
• in cactus and rock gardens
• attracts hummingbirds

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Exposure: full sun
• Water: natural rainfall; some supplemental during hottest part of year
• Soil: best in rocky/gravelly
• Propagation: by seed, collection in wild is difficult due to vigorous dispersion
• Maintenance: minimal to none

NOTES:

aka False mesquite

form is closer to ground than Calliandra californica

comparison of Calliandra species:
	C. californica	C. eriophylla
form	more vase shaped, open	low growing, more dense
size	2 to 4 times larger	(smaller)
bloom	bright red flowers	whitish or pink
fruit	seed	seed(same)

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This page was first created August 29, 2001 and last modified July 28, 2005.

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email to: tmoore1@flash.net

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