Calliandra
Calliandra calothyrsus
Also listed as Anneslia calothyrsa, Anneslia confusa
Climate Match for your location
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A tropical shrub prized for its feathery, bright pink to red powder-puff flower heads and fine, bipinnate foliage. Nitrogen-fixing and fast-growing, making it excellent for permaculture systems, livestock fodder, and erosion control.
Why grow it
Calliandra calothyrsus offers reliable nitrogen fixation and rapid biomass production in tropical and subtropical permaculture systems, making it competitive with other fast-growing leguminous shrubs like Sesbania or Gliricidia for erosion control and soil amendment. Unlike many nitrogen-fixing species, it produces palatable fodder that livestock readily consume, and its ornamental flower clusters provide visual interest while supporting pollinators. The fine bipinnate foliage breaks down quickly when coppiced or pruned, improving soil structure faster than coarser-leaved alternatives.
Watch out for
Calliandra performs best with consistent moisture during establishment and can show reduced vigor in extended dry seasons, requiring supplemental water in marginal climates. The plant may take 2-3 years to reach productive size in marginal conditions, so initial establishment timing should account for local rainfall patterns. Dense planting can create allelopathic or competitive shading effects on adjacent crops, so spacing should be planned according to your specific intercropping layout.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
Central and South America
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
The species itself is most commonly grown; no major cultivars are widely distinguished, though plants vary in flower color intensity from pink to deep red depending on provenance and growing conditions.
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A tropical shrub prized for its feathery, bright pink to red powder-puff flower heads and fine, bipinnate foliage. Nitrogen-fixing and fast-growing, making it excellent for permaculture systems, livestock fodder, and erosion control.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Calliandra grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Calliandra calothyrsus offers reliable nitrogen fixation and rapid biomass production in tropical and subtropical permaculture systems, making it competitive with other fast-growing leguminous shrubs like Sesbania or Gliricidia for erosion control and soil amendment. Unlike many nitrogen-fixing species, it produces palatable fodder that livestock readily consume, and its ornamental flower clusters provide visual interest while supporting pollinators. The fine bipinnate foliage breaks down quickly when coppiced or pruned, improving soil structure faster than coarser-leaved alternatives.
Watch out for
Calliandra performs best with consistent moisture during establishment and can show reduced vigor in extended dry seasons, requiring supplemental water in marginal climates. The plant may take 2-3 years to reach productive size in marginal conditions, so initial establishment timing should account for local rainfall patterns. Dense planting can create allelopathic or competitive shading effects on adjacent crops, so spacing should be planned according to your specific intercropping layout.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
Central and South America
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar shrubs you might consider:
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Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
The species itself is most commonly grown; no major cultivars are widely distinguished, though plants vary in flower color intensity from pink to deep red depending on provenance and growing conditions.