Powder Puff Tree

Powder Puff Tree Care

Calliandra Haematocephala

What is the plant

This small tree or bush is evergreen and a member of the legume family with bipinately compound leaves that close up at night or during times of drought. In spring and late summer raspberry like buds growing in the leaf axils open into powderpuff-like flowers made up of a multitude of long colorful showy stamens. Leathery seed pods follow the flowers, bursting open when ripe and then curling up. The dwarf variety ‘nana’ is especially suitable for bonsai because of its slow growth and more frequent blooming.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

min 16°C

Hardiness zone

9 - 11

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Keep evenly moist and water less in the winter months. Plants appreciate high humidity so growing on a pebble tray can be beneficial.
Pruning
Prune during the active growing season in mid spring and summer. When new shoots have 5-6 leaves they can be cut back to leave 1-2 leaves.
Fertilizer
Fertilize every two weeks during the growing season using a high phosphorous fertilizer to encourage blooming. Do not fertilize during the winter.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
The pink powderpuff needs full sun or very light partial shade, whether grown indoors or outdoors. Place as indoor house plants near a window, even during the winter.
Soil
Loam, sand, peat moss in equal proportions; good drainage is important especially in winter.
Temperature
For outdoor planting, USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11 are recommended. It’s not tolerant to frost and may start to sag if left in cool temperatures.It’s commonly grown outdoors in South Florida and other warm, humid regions. Outside of these areas, the plant may freeze during the winter.