Calliandra brevipes, Calliandra selloi, Acacia selloi

Spectacular bloomer! Attractive shrub with finely divided leaves and clusters of red powder-puff flowers. It is native to southeastern Brazil, Uruguay, and northern Argentina. One of the most beautiful of the Calliandra species, it is a medium- to large-sized shrub with a graceful growth habit. Silky, pink-white, powder-puff-like flowers appear during the summer months. The fine foliage is an attractive mid-green color.

Close related Calliandra eriophylla is native to deserts and arid grasslands in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas and Mexico. A hardy calliandra with flowers and leaves looking very similar to tropical Calliandra selloi. Densely branched, deciduous shrub to 3 ft., though usually much shorter, with grayish-pubescent leaflets, flowers and pods. The petals of fairy duster are inconspicuous; it is the long, pink filaments of the stamens that make the showy display. This little shrub blooms in spring. The exquisite clusters of flowers with their many long stamens form delicate, pink balls, giving the plant a fluffy pink appearance in full bloom. It belongs to a group of mostly tropical woody plants that includes acacias and mimosas.

Similar plants:

• Calliandra californica (Baja Fairy Duster)
• Calliandra calothyrsus (Cabello de Angel (Angels Hair), Barbe Sol (The Suns Beard), Red Calliandra, Powderpuff)
• Calliandra emarginata, Inga emarginata (Powderpuff)
• Calliandra haematocephala x surinamensis Nana (Dwarf Powderpuff Tree)
• Calliandra haematocephala, Calliandra inaequilatera (Rose cascade, Blood Red Tassel Flower)
• Calliandra houstoniana (Tree Calliandra, Powderpuff)
• Calliandra parvifolia (Powderpuff, Pink Calliandra, Plumerillo Rosado)
• Calliandra riparia, Calliandra schultzei (Pink Powderpuff)
• Calliandra sp. (Powder Puff)
• Calliandra surinamensis (Surinam Powder Puff, Pink Powder Puff, Surinamese Stickpea, Officiers-kwast)