Dwarf powder puff (Calliandra foliolosa)
Care, watering, light and tips for Dwarf powder puff on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Fabaceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 3 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 5–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Dwarf powder puff
Calliandra foliolosa, commonly known as Powder Puff or Pink Powder Puff, is an evergreen shrub native to South America. It is distinguished by its fine, delicate foliage and its bright pink, globular flowers that resemble small pom-poms and attract pollinators. It is ideal for low-maintenance gardens, borders, or as an ornamental potted plant.
Native range
South America: Southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina
Care tips
It requires full sun exposure for abundant flowering, though it tolerates light partial shade. Watering should be moderate, allowing the substrate to dry out slightly between waterings; it is sensitive to waterlogging. It prefers well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soils. A common mistake is excessive pruning, which can reduce flowering; prune only for shaping or to remove dead branches after flowering.
How to save a dying Dwarf powder puff
- Warning signs
- Yellowing or massive leaf drop, sparse or no flowering, dry and brittle branches.
- First aid
- Check drainage and soil moisture. If dry, water deeply. If waterlogged, aerate and reduce watering. Prune dead branches.
- What kills it
- Overwatering that rots roots or lack of direct sun. It doesn't tolerate hard frosts or saline soils.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots aren't completely rotted and green shoots remain. Act quickly.