Flame bush (Calliandra tweediei)
Care, watering, light and tips for Flame bush 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 Flame bush
Calliandra tweediei, commonly known as kalliandra, is a small shrub or tree from the Fabaceae family, renowned for its spectacular spherical flowers with long red stamens resembling a powder puff. It is ideal for tropical and subtropical gardens, as a standalone specimen or in hedges, adding an exotic and vibrant touch. Its prolific blooming makes it a striking focal point in any landscape.
Native range
South America (Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina)
Care tips
For optimal growth, Calliandra tweediei requires full sun for abundant flowering. Watering should be regular, keeping the substrate moist but not waterlogged, especially during dry periods. It prefers well-drained, fertile, and slightly acidic soils; a universal potting mix enriched with organic matter is suitable. Avoid frost, as it does not tolerate sub-zero temperatures and can suffer severe damage.
How to save a dying Flame bush
- Warning signs
- Yellowing and falling leaves, dry branches or weak shoots, lack of flowering.
- First aid
- Check watering (no waterlogging), sun (full), soil (well-drained, slightly acidic). Prune dead branches.
- What kills it
- Overwatering and lack of direct sun, weakening roots and flowering.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots aren't rotten and green branches remain. Act quickly.