Product Details
Like mini feather dusters, the fuzzy, fan-shaped flower heads of our Powder Puff Tree Topiary add uncommon interest to porches and patios. The show begins with Fernlike foliage that opens in shades of orangey-pink before maturing to green. Buds shaped like Raspberries come next followed by the beguiling, Mimosa-like flower heads (which are actually masses of stamens). Hummingbirds and butterflies can’t resist. Neither can we. Shipped in a 10" nursery pot. Terracotta pot not included.
Calliandra is a genus of nitrogen-fixing herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and small trees from tropical and subtropical parts of North, Central, and South America. Flowers with clusters of long, slender stamens give them that delicate powder puff appearance and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Featherlike pinnate leaves are evergreen and may fold up at night or during rainy weather. Cultivated varieties are hardy in USDA Zones 10-11.
For more information on growing and care, click Growing Guide.
Shipping
HOW PLANTS ARE SHIPPED
The size of the plants we ship has been selected to reduce the shock of transplanting. For some, this means a large, bareroot crown. Others cannot travel bareroot or transplant best if grown in containers. We ship these perennials and annuals in 1 pint pots, except as noted. We must point out that many perennials will not bloom the first year after planting, but will the following year, amply rewarding your patience. We ship bulbs as dormant, bare bulbs, sometimes with some wood shavings or moss. Shrubs, Roses, vines, and other woody plants may be shipped bareroot or in pots. The size of the pot is noted in the quick facts for each item.
WHEN WE SHIP
We ship our bulbs and plants at the right time for planting in your area, except as noted, with orders dispatched on a first-come, first-served basis by climate zone. We also ship a wide range of containers and planters, tools, supplies, fertilizers, garden wear, garden decor items, as well as indoor decorations like wreaths and dried bouquets when available. Estimated dates for shipping are indicated in the green Shipping Details box for each item. Please supply a street address for delivery. Kindly contact us with two weeks notice, if you'll be away at the expected time of delivery.
OUR GUARANTEE
We guarantee to ship plants that are in prime condition for growing. If your order is damaged or fails to meet your expectations, we will cheerfully replace or refund it. Please contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-503-9624 or email us at [email protected]. Please include your order number or customer number when contacting us.
Reviews
(1 Review)
Growing guide
Latin Name Pronunciation: kal-lee-an' drah
Calliandra is a genus of evergreen, nitrogen-fixing, herbaceous perennials, shrubs and small trees from tropical and subtropical parts of North, Central, and South America. Flowers with clusters of long, slender stamens attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Hardy in USDA Zones 10-11.
Light: Full sun.
Watering: Water regularly to keep soil evenly moist; do not let soil either dry out completely or get waterlogged. Callianadras are from hot humid climates and may suffer in a dry or windy location.
Fertilizer: When grown in a container, fertilize with a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the active growing season. When planted in a garden, add a slow-release general-purpose fertilizer in spring or top-dress with fertilizer. Do not fertilize in winter.
Soil: Well-drained soil is a must whether you grow your Powder Puff Tree in a container or a garden. When grown in a garden bed, they are undemanding, although they do best in rich soils.
Pests/Diseases: Outdoors, Calliandras are relatively pest-free. Indoors, watch for the usual houseplant pests: whiteflies, scale, aphids, mealybugs.
Seasonal Care: Snip off spent blooms throughout the season. Prune to maintain form after the period of heavy bloom. In cold-winter climates, bring plants indoors before frost and place them in a bright, sunny room, avoiding cold dry air. Your plant will appreciate added humidity. With less light, plants may not continue to bloom during the winter, but evergreen foliage remains attractive. Decrease water in winter, but do not let plants completely dry out, and do not fertilize. Set back outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in spring.
Growing Powder Puff Tree Standards:
A standard is a type of topiary that is a woody plant trained to a long, single stem. The stem can be crowned with bushy foliage and flowers at a determined height or, with fine-textured plants, a neatly clipped or loose globe. This arrangement is beautiful but requires a little extra effort on the part of the gardener to maintain.
Staking a Standard: To keep your standard standing, shelter it from strong winds and support it with a stake that has a diameter at least as large as the stem's. The stake should be long enough that, when plunged into the pot or the ground, it reaches just inside the foliage. Fasten the standard’s stem to the stake at several points with garden twine looped in a figure-eight around stem and stake. Check the ties periodically during the growing season and loosen them if they constrict the stem’s growth.
Pruning and repotting: Maintain the shape of the head with selective pruning and keep deadheading to promote new growth and flowering. Do not shear the plant as though it were a hedge. If you find that a standard in a container dries out quickly after watering, the plant probably needs a larger pot. Lift it from its current pot, make four deep vertical cuts in the root ball, and place it in a new pot that is 2-4" wider and taller than the old one, filling in around the root ball with fresh potting mix. Water thoroughly after repotting and give it time to recover in a protected spot.
