Baja Fairy Duster - October Shrub of the Month

Baja Fairy Duster (Calliandra californica) is a must have for the desert garden.  There is so much to love about this shrub.  My favorite attribute is that it flowers off and on all year.  It's red flowers are shaped like miniature feather dusters.  In addition this plant attracts hummingbirds, is low-maintenance, drought tolerant and great by swimming pools because of it's low litter.

Baja Fairy Duster has a vibrant red flower, which is often a color missing in the desert plant palette.  The majority of flowering occurs spring through fall, but some flowering does occur in winter months.  It is native to Baja California, Mexico and is also called Red Fairy Duster by some.  It is evergreen to 20 degrees F.  During some unusually cold winters, when temperatures dropped into the high teens, I have had some killed to the ground, but they quickly grew back from their roots. 

USES: This shrub grows to approximately 2 to 5 ft. high and wide, depending on how much you prune it, so allow plenty of room for it to grow.  It makes a nice screening shrub, either in front of a wall or blocking pool equipment, etc.  It also serves as a colorful background shrub for smaller perennials such as Damianita, Blackfoot Daisy, Parry's Penstemon, Gold or Purple Lantana or Desert Marigold.  Baja Fairy Duster can take full sun and reflected heat but can also grow in light shade.  It is not particular about soil. 

 Baja Fairy Duster in the middle of a desert landscape, flanked by Desert Spoon to the left and 'Torch Glow' Bougainvillea to the right.  Red Yucca is in the foreground.
 

MAINTENANCE:  As I mentioned before, this is a very low-maintenance shrub.  Some people shear this shrub, which I DO NOT recommend.  This removes most of the flowers and takes away from the natural shape of this shrub.  However, it's size can be controlled with proper pruning.  Pruning should be done in late spring and should be performed with hand-pruners, NOT hedge clippers.

Baja Fairy Duster does require regular irrigation until established, but then is fairly drought-tolerant.  However, regular irrigation is needed for it to look its best and flower regularly, which is what I do.  Other then a little slow-release fertilizer in the planting hole, I never fertilize this plant.  Most native desert plants have are adapted to growing in our nutrient deficient soils and do best when left alone in terms of fertilizing.  I tell my clients to fertilize only if the plant shows symptoms of a nutrient deficiency.

So, go to your local plant nursery and get some of these beautiful shrubs for your garden.  Then, while you sit and enjoy it's beauty, you can debate what you love most about it....the beautiful year-round flowers, the hummingbirds it attracts, it's low-maintenance, or come up with your own reasons.