The Butterfly Guy: Powder Puffs will spruce up your garden

Calliandra (haematocephala) species contains more than 150 different kinds of shrubs and small trees, all shapes and sizes.

This group of plants is greatly appreciated in southwest Florida because they bloom from fall to spring — commonly being called snowbird trees — putting on a big show in season when the most people can admire their beauty.

In warmer years I have had them bloom almost year round.

Calliandra comes with a beautiful pompom like flower that sticks out from the foliage like a sore thumb — a good sore thumb. The blooms, which are 2 to 3 inches in diameter, range in color from pink, to red, to white, the latter of which you don’t see too often. I think the reason for that is the pink and scarlet red are so vibrant, the white pales in color.

But because white calliandra is unusual, of course, it’s my favorite. I have a big tree in my garden and when it blooms it just lights up the whole garden. The blooms attract bees, butterflies and humming birds. What more can you ask for — electric blooms that attract wildlife.

The powder puff has lacy fern-like foliage, is an evergreen and the foliage closes up at night.

Calliandras can grow up to 10 to 16 feet in height and the same in the crown, but don’t panic — it can be kept at any desired height and width with a little hand pruning. Usually trimming (by hand) is done after blooming, but if there is something bothering you about the shape of your powder puff, just trim it. And if you have the space, let it go!

Another great aspect of the powder puff is that it seems to take standing in water for weeks at a time with no problem. There are not many plants that can do that, other than plants in the aquatic group.

Powder puff is also extremely drought tolerant. Go figure. So I guess that makes it a bullet proof plant in my book.

Make sure when planting to keep it at least 7 feet from the house so it doesn’t grow into the living room window. In my garden we have trimmed the pink powder puff like an awning shape, clearing the bottom and leaving the crown (top) larger so even in the rain we can sit underneath it and enjoy a cocktail without getting wet, and when the sun is out gives us a shady area to relax.

There are other plants having a powder puff appearance worth mentioning. The dwarf calliandra emarganarta has red smaller flowers than its big brother but none-the-less spectacular. You know when you say dwarf it usually means that it takes only a few more years for it to get 20 feet high! But I have had one for years and it is only 6 feet high by 5 feet wide without any pruning.

Another plant with a powder puff appearance is stifftia chrysantha, native to Brazil and very rare. Of course I have one! This one can grow up to 8 to 10 feet high. Blooms are baseball sized orange to yellow balls, and just magnificent. 
Powder puffs are almost insect-free but I’ve seen thorn bugs (cmbonia crassicornis) on mine twice in thirty years. Before you decide to kill them, take a closer look — they are a really cool looking bug — but be sure you don’t sit on one.
Don’t forget to help save the monarch butterfly by planting milkweed.

Mike Malloy, known as Naples ‘butterfly guy’ sells host and nectar plants for butterflies as well as tropical plants at the Third St So farmer’s market every Saturday morning.