Fairy Duster (Calliandra conferta): Feathery Pink Blooms for Arid Gardens

Fairy duster, also called false mesquite, is a small, airy shrub native to the southwestern US and Mexico. It bears fluffy, pink, powder-puff flowers in spring and intermittently after rains, attracting hummingbirds and bees.

Botanical Profile

• Family: Mimosaceae (or Fabaceae subfamily Mimosoideae)
• Genus: Calliandra
• Species: conferta

Growth and Bloom

Open, multi-stemmed shrub, 3–5 feet tall and wide. Leaves are bipinnately compound, fine-textured. Flowers are spherical heads of long, pink stamens, fragrant. Blooms spring, then after summer rains.

Culture

Full sun. Well-drained, even rocky soil. Extremely drought-tolerant. Hardy in USDA zones 8–10. Prune lightly after bloom.

Uses

Xeriscape, native plant garden, wildlife habitat, informal hedge. Hummingbird magnet.