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Calliandra haematocephala (Pink Powderpuff) – A fast growing evergreen rambling shrub or small tree that can grow to 15 feet tall with an equal spread. The silky lime green pinnately compound leaves are a coppery color when first emerging and the newest terminal leaf is curved back like a lobster claw with leaves closing up in the evening. The 2- to 3-inch-wide pompon dark pink staminate flowers lacking petals open from tight interesting raspberry looking buds to bloom from October through March.
Plant in a warm sunny location and give it plenty of water but also tolerates considerable shade. Hardy to about 25-30 degrees F. This plant forms a large spreading shrub but also espaliers very nicely and the flowers are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
Calliandra haematocephala was first discovered in Bolivia but is also distributed throughout southern Peru and planted extensively throughout South America and elsewhere, partly due to cultivation for ornament and for its bark which was marketed in the mid-1800s as a substitute for the unrelated Cinchona (Cinchona officinalis) from the which the bark containing quinine was used to treat malaria. Because this plant was planted out elsewhere so early this species was first described from a plant growing in distant Java. The name for the genus is from the Greek 'kallos', meaning "beautiful" and 'andra' meaning "stamen" and the specific epithet comes from comes from the Greek words 'haimatos' meaning blood and 'kephalé' meaning 'head' in reference to this plants near blood-red head flowers. We grew this attractive plant from 1983 until 1996.
The information displayed on this page about Calliandra haematocephala is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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