Fairy Duster Plants – How to propagate and care for Calliandra eriophylla Fairy Duster plants?
Wow, just wow! How mesmerizing do they look? What are they called? Can I grow them in my garden? All these questions striked in my mind after seeing fairy duster plants.
I was so excited to learn how I could propagate them and trust me plant lovers, you will be glad to know about fairy duster or Calliandra eriophylla plants. Do you know what the best thing about fairy plants is? They tend to attract birds to the garden. This is getting more interesting.
Don’t worry; this informative guide will help you grow fairy duster plants, which I have shared after growing the fairy duster plants in my garden. So stay calm and grow more.
Quick takeaways:
- If you are in hot and arid weather, then it is the best decision for you all to grow a fairy duster as it is very suitable.
- An increasing number of fairy dusters are rewarding bird watchers with plenty of feathered friends in their backyards.
- Make sure to provide water in birdbaths or other outdoor decorations to make their stay more comfortable.
Let’s learn about fairy duster plants for better understanding and knowledge.
| Common Name | Fairy duster, false mesquite |
| Botanical Name | Calliandra eriophylla |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Plant Type | Perennial, shrub |
| Mature Size | one to three feet tall, one to three feet wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun |
| Soil Type | Sandy, well-drained |
| Soil pH | 6.0 to 8.0 |
| Bloom Time | Spring |
| Flower Color | Pink |
| Hardiness Zones | 7-11, USDA |
| Native Area | California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico |
What are Fairy Duster Plants?
Folks, do you know about the fairy duster plants? If not, then what are you waiting for? Fairy duster plants which are also known as calliandra eriophylla an evergreen, low shrubs that are relatively drought-tolerant and easy to care for.
This shrub loves sun and heat, making it perfect for gardens in dry climates. However, Fairy Duster does not work well in shade or partial shade. Make sure your climate is suitable and mimics local growing requirements to enjoy the beauty of this shrub.
Their flowers are the stars of the show and are unique, feathery pink balls that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and many other desert birds. After flowering, the cactus leaves develop long pods that attract quail and other wildlife. While these desert plants will develop delicate flower buds, they are very hardy. Their dense root structure makes them ideal candidates for erosion control.
Fairy Duster Features: An Overview
As you come to know about the meaning of fairy duster. Now is the time to know about some of the features of fairy duster in detail. They are as follows:
- It is one of the plants that will spread slowly in your garden area.
- It is a medium-sized shrub that will produce evergreen vegetation in your garden area.
- It will attain a height of about 1-5 feet long and wide as well.
- At the time of spring season, it will begin to develop dark pink colored flowers in the plant ranges to white powdered color.
- If the plant is healthy, then it will bloom at its best but it will not be fragrant.
How to grow Calliandra eriophylla or Fairy Duster plants?
Do you know how to propagate these beautiful fairy duster plants? Let’s know the way of propagating them:
Step 1- You’ll need to soak fairy dust seeds to soften their thick shells so they can sprout. Boil a pot of water, wait for the water to cool slightly, then pour the water into the bowl with the seeds.
Step 2- Soak the seeds for 24 hours or until the seeds are plump. Keep the seeds moist until ready to sow.
Step 3- Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep in well-drained sandy soil.
Step 4- Place the seeds in a warm place with filtered light. The temperature should be kept above 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 5- Wet the soil and let it dry. Keep it dry for a day and then water again. Repeat this process.
Step 6- Germination should occur within four to six weeks. Once the seedlings emerge, move them to a sunny spot and water them when the soil dries out.
Step 7- Once the seedlings are a few inches tall and have healthy, mature leaves, move them to a sunny, well-drained area of the garden, three to four feet apart.
This is how you are done with the growth of these fairy duster plants.
Why do birds attract the Fairy Duster?
Birds flock to feather duster plants, as do wrens, finches, and other birds that inhabit desert environments. An increasing number of fairy dusters are rewarding bird watchers with plenty of feathered friends in their backyards.
Make sure to provide water in birdbaths or other outdoor decorations to make their stay more comfortable. You can come back with little other encouragement.
The birds seem to particularly like the bean-like pods produced by feather dusters that grow after the flowers have faded. You will find them devouring these, sometimes before the pods crack open and fall to the ground.
How to care for calliandra eriophylla Fairy Duster plants?
Taking care of these fairy duster plants is important if you want to bloom them for a long. Let’s know how to take proper care of them with the help of the below points:
- Sunlight
- Soil texture
- Humidty and temperature level
- Fertilizer and chemicals
- Pruning
- Repotting
Let’s get started to learn about them in more detail:
Sunlight
The fairy duster plants need bright sunshine so one needs to plant these herbs in the full sun for better results and keep them for a long.
Soil texture
If you provide moist soil to this plant, it will be harmful to the plant’s growth. It prefers to grow in drained soil and gravelly soil for better nourishment.
Humidity and temperature level
What about the humidity level, folks? As these plants prefer to grow in hot or arid climates, they can bear heat, coldness, or even drought.
You might be wondering about one thing: how can these plants live in flooding? But, it is true, they can survive in that climate too.
Fertilizer and chemicals
If you want your plant to grow with its flowers, you ought to fertilize them in the early spring because fairy dusters will be ready to blossom and will provide the food and energy nutrients to the plant for growing. Try to use a well-balanced fertilizer.
Pruning
It is required to be pruned when the growth of the plant becomes over and it is coming out of the drainage holes. So, seasonal trimming is necessary for the plants so that the plant’s size and shape remain maintained.
At the time of summer, you have to prune the plant. Keep in mind to make use of sterilized and sharp scissors for pruning your plant. It will encourage more blooming in the plant.
Repotting
What about the repotting needs of this plant? These plants grow vigorously in your garden area, so it becomes important to Repot the plant so that the plant gets sufficient space for its growth. It is not suggested to repot this plant frequently but with time.
After every year, you can Repot this variety. You have to choose a fresh potting mix for your plant at the time of repotting. Also, you can choose one size bigger container than the previous one.
How to Get Calliandra eriophylla to Bloom?
Fairy duster plants are one of the plants that are famous for their blooms as they are attractive and elegant. It will produce amazing long and colorful stamens in the plant which will develop an amazing feathery look in the plant.
You will observe that they will bloom in shades of pink, but they are not fragrant. This plant will bloom every year if you fulfill the basic requirements of this plant. They will bloom from late winter till late spring.
You have to provide them with a good amount of full sunlight for about 6-8 hours of light per day. They can even survive in partial shade but will not bloom the way they will bloom in full sunlight exposure.
Wrapping up the context
In this article, you come to know about the beautiful fairy duster plants that bloom in a hot and arid environment. Fairy duster plants which are also known as calliandra eriophylla an evergreen, low shrubs that are relatively drought-tolerant and easy to care for.
This shrub loves sun and heat, making it perfect for gardens in dry climates. However, Fairy Duster does not work well in shade or partial shade. I hope this article will be useful for you all.
Thanks for reading! Happy Gardening!
