Fairy duster is a lacy, semi-evergreen shrub that bursts into bloom with an explosion of dainty pink flowers. It’s hard to believe a shrub this delicate-looking is actually native to the deserts of the southwest. Here’s how to plant and care for this delightful shrub.
Fairy duster or pink fairy duster (Calliandra eriophylla) is a medium size shrub native to large swaths of the desert southwest.
It derives its common name from its pink flowers that look like miniature feather dusters. It has slim, gray, wiry stems and lacy, fern-like leaves that close at night.
This plant may look delicate, but it’s a tough desert plant. In its native environment, it grows in full sun and survives on only 3 to 14 inches of annual rainfall. It’s extremely cold-hardy and tolerates temperatures in the low teens.
Fairy duster is an extremely low-maintenance plant. Once established, it needs minimal irrigation. It requires virtually no pruning and produces no obvious litter.
Fairy duster is semi-evergreen, losing its leaves during extreme cold or drought. During the winter, it is relatively inconspicuous but rewards you with an explosion of pink puffball flowers, mainly in the spring. With adequate water, it blooms again in the fall and intermittently throughout the summer.
While the flowers might not look like it, they are heavy nectar-producers that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. It is a larval host for moths and butterflies. Additionally, fairy duster seeds are eaten by numerous seed-eating birds, especially the native quails.
Rabbits, deer, and javelinas usually leave fairy duster alone.
Why I Like This Plant
- Charming pink flowers
- Tough desert native
- Low maintenance, rarely needs pruning
- No thorns, low litter, non-toxic
- Supports wildlife
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a fairy duster to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Fairy duster should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 – 11. It is cold-hardy down to 20℉. It’s considered semi-evergreen, and it’s normal for it to lose some leaves during extreme cold.
Sun Exposure
Fairy duster thrives in full sun. While it can be grown in part shade, it may flower less.
Size and Growth Rate
Fairy duster is considered a slow grower. The speed of growth can be sped up by giving it supplemental water. It typically reaches a size of 4’ wide by 4’ tall.
Soil
Fairy duster is not particular about soil and grows well in any native desert soil, provided it’s well-draining.
Other Location Considerations
Because it is non-toxic, low-litter, and has no thorns, it’s a plant you can place near a pool, sidewalk, or anywhere it might come in contact with people or pets.
Fairy Duster:
The Essentials
| Common Names | Fairy duster, pink fairy duster |
| Scientific Name | Calliandra eriophylla |
| Origin | Mojave, Chihuahuan, Sonoran Deserts |
| Plant Type | Semi-evergreen shrub |
| USDA Zones | 9 – 11 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 20℉ |
| Flower Color | Pink |
| Flower Season | Spring, summer, fall |
| Mature Size | 4’ high x 4’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | Chlorosis if overwatered |
| Garden Friendly | No thorns, non-toxic |
| Wildlife | Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds Deer, rabbit, javelina resistant |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any shrub in the desert is to dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper.
Amending the soil is not recommended. Counterintuitively, backfilling with the same native soil you just dug up helps your plant develop a stronger root system.
When to Plant
The best time to plant fairy duster is in the fall. This gives it three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.
The second best time is in spring, the earlier the better. This still gives your shrub time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.
How to Care for Fairy Duster
Whether you’ve recently planted a fairy duster or have an existing plant in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water New Plants
Once you’ve got your fairy duster planted, watering your plant is your most immediate concern. Here is the recommended watering schedule for new shrubs planted in the spring or fall.
| Weeks 1 & 2 | Every 3 – 4 days |
| Weeks 3 & 4 | Every 6 – 7 days |
| Weeks 5 & 6 | Every 7 – 10 days |
| Weeks 7 & 8 | Every 10 – 14 days |
After week 8, gradually extend the time between waterings.
How to Water Established Plants
As your shrub gets established, there are two watering factors to consider.
- First is how often to water. This will vary with the seasons.
- Second is how much water to give your shrub with each watering. This depends on the size of your plant and will change as your plant grows.
To determine the ideal watering schedule for fairy duster you’ll find everything you need to know, including easy-to-use charts, at How to Water Desert Shrubs: How Often? How Much?
Note that iron chlorosis, which is characterized by yellow leaves, can be a problem for fairy dusters that are watered too frequently.
Should You Fertilize?
There is no need to fertilize fairy duster. It gets all the nutrients it needs from native soil.
And since it’s a member of the legume family (Fabaceae), it fixes nitrogen which naturally improves its surrounding soil.
How to Prune
Fairy duster has a naturally attractive form and rarely needs pruning. Occasionally, an errant branch might need to be trimmed. Since stems are thin and wiry, you can easily do this with your snippers or hand clippers.
If you must prune your fairy duster, the best time is in late spring after it’s done blooming. Don’t take off any more than is necessary — they grow back slowly!
Aim to achieve a natural, informal look. If you try to shear it like a hedge or substantially change its size and shape, you will destroy this plant’s natural shape and inhibit flowering.
Don’t Confuse Pink Fairy Duster With…
Pink fairy duster is not the only fairy duster used in southwest desert landscaping. There is a fairy duster with red flowers known as Baja fairy duster (Calliandra californica).
It also has lacy foliage and feather-duster flowers, but it grows larger and faster, is evergreen, and blooms year round.
Fairy Duster Cultivars
Pink fairy dusters readily hybridize with red fairy dusters. Commercial growers have crossed the two to develop hybrids that have attributes of both plants.
Calliandra x ‘Maricopa Red’ was developed by Tucson’s Civano Growers. It is somewhat more cold-hardy than either parent plant (down to 15°F). It is compact (4′ x 4′) and has vibrant red flowers.
Calliandra x ‘Sierra Star’ PP15387 is a patented hybrid cross. It has denser, more uniform foliage than either parent plant. It is also more cold-hardy, down to 15°F.
Plant Lover Facts
Pink fairy duster (Calliandra eriophylla) has a large native range that includes areas of the Mojave, Chihuahuan, and Sonoran Deserts. It can be found in desert and shrubland regions of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas, and throughout Mexico.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for over 15 years.
