Calliandra eriophylla – Fairyduster

Calliandra eriophylla - Fairyduster, Fairy Duster (pink flowers)

Calliandra eriophylla - Fairyduster, Fairy Duster (white flowers)

Calliandra eriophylla - Fairyduster, Fairy Duster

Plant Name

Scientific Name: Calliandra eriophylla

Common Names: Fairyduster, Fairy Duster

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial

Growth Habit: Shrub, Subshrub

Arizona Native Status: Native

Habitat: Desert, Upland

Flower Color: Pink, Pinkish white

Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall. It blooms mainly in the spring and then variably throughout the year after any rains.

Height: 1 to 4 feet (30 to 122 cm) tall

Description: The rounded, puffball flower heads are 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter and contain several clusters of flowers with long, slender stamens. Although usually straight, the long stamens are sometimes twisted and curly. The flowers are followed by curled, brown seed pods. The leaves are green and bipinnate with tiny leaflets.

Special Characteristics

Butterfly Plant – The flowers attract large butterflies like Swallowtails (Family Papilionidae).

Hummingbird Flower – The nectar-filled flowers attract hummingbirds.

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae – Pea family
Genus: Calliandra Benth. – stickpea
Species: Calliandra eriophylla Benth. – fairyduster

More About This Plant

Arizona County Distribution Map