Calliandra falcata
Care, watering, light and tips for Calliandra falcata on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Fabaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 3 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 5–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Calliandra falcata
Calliandra falcata, commonly known as Clavellina, is a small shrub or tree from the legume family, valued for its striking flowers with prominent stamens resembling small red or pink pom-poms. Its foliage is delicate and bipinnate, adding a fine texture to the landscape. It is ideal for tropical and subtropical gardens, as a specimen plant or in low hedges.
Native range
Mexico and Central America
Care tips
It requires full sun exposure for abundant flowering and optimal development. Watering should be regular, keeping the substrate moist but not waterlogged, especially during warmer months; it tolerates short periods of drought once established. It prefers well-drained soils, rich in organic matter, and slightly acidic. A common mistake is lack of pruning, which can lead to a leggy shape and less flowering; prune it after flowering to maintain a compact form and encourage new growth.
How to save a dying Calliandra falcata
- Warning signs
- Yellowish or brown leaves, wilting and falling; poor or no flowering; stunted growth.
- First aid
- Check drainage and soil moisture; prune dry branches; place in sun; fertilize lightly if no flowers.
- What kills it
- Overwatering causing root rot, lack of direct sun, or very heavy, clayey soils.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if watering/drainage issues are corrected quickly and it gets enough sunlight.