Botanical Name: Calliandra californica
Common Names: Baja Fairy Duster, Red Fairy Duster
Calliandra californica, commonly known as Baja Fairy Duster, is a striking evergreen desert shrub prized for its vivid red, powder-puff flowers that bloom much of the year and attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Native primarily to the Baja California peninsula of Mexico, with some populations in Sonora, this plant naturally grows in sandy washes, flats, and gravelly hillsides, making it exceptionally well adapted to arid landscapes. It forms a graceful, airy shrub that typically reaches a mature size of 5–6 feet tall and wide, though it may remain as compact as 3 feet with limited water or spread up to 10 feet in optimal conditions. PACKET OF 30 SEEDS.
Care and Cultivation:
Full sun for best flowering
Well-draining sandy or gravelly soil
Very drought-tolerant once established
Water deeply but infrequently; allow soil to dry between watering
Low maintenance; pruning optional to shape or rejuvenate
Frost Tolerance and Cold Hardiness:
Cold-hardy to approximately 20–25°F (-7 to -4°C)
May experience twig damage or freeze to the ground in harder frosts
Typically rebounds well in spring after cold damage
Protection recommended during extended freezes
Winter Dormancy and Health:
Evergreen in mild winters
Growth slows in colder temperatures
Prune frost-damaged wood in spring after new growth appears
Image 1 by Wikimedia Commons user Stan Shebs, image 2 by Wikimedia Commons user Tatiana Gerus, image 3 by Wikimedia Commons user Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz.
Botanical Name: Calliandra californica
Common Names: Baja Fairy Duster, Red Fairy Duster
Calliandra californica, commonly known as Baja Fairy Duster, is a striking evergreen desert shrub prized for its vivid red, powder-puff flowers that bloom much of the year and attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Native primarily to the Baja California peninsula of Mexico, with some populations in Sonora, this plant naturally grows in sandy washes, flats, and gravelly hillsides, making it exceptionally well adapted to arid landscapes. It forms a graceful, airy shrub that typically reaches a mature size of 5–6 feet tall and wide, though it may remain as compact as 3 feet with limited water or spread up to 10 feet in optimal conditions. PACKET OF 30 SEEDS.
Care and Cultivation:
Full sun for best flowering
Well-draining sandy or gravelly soil
Very drought-tolerant once established
Water deeply but infrequently; allow soil to dry between watering
Low maintenance; pruning optional to shape or rejuvenate
Frost Tolerance and Cold Hardiness:
Cold-hardy to approximately 20–25°F (-7 to -4°C)
May experience twig damage or freeze to the ground in harder frosts
Typically rebounds well in spring after cold damage
Protection recommended during extended freezes
Winter Dormancy and Health:
Evergreen in mild winters
Growth slows in colder temperatures
Prune frost-damaged wood in spring after new growth appears
Image 1 by Wikimedia Commons user Stan Shebs, image 2 by Wikimedia Commons user Tatiana Gerus, image 3 by Wikimedia Commons user Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz.
