The genus comprises
herbaceous perennial plants,
shrubs, and rarely small
trees, growing tall, with
bipinnate leaves. The
flowers are produced in cylindrical or globose
inflorescences and have numerous long slender
stamens which give rise to the common names
powder-puff,
powder puff plant, and
fairy duster. These plants flower all year round, but the best blooming is in spring and summer. They can be easily pruned. Calliandra are often fed on by caterpillars, such as the larvae of statira sulphur (
Aphrissa statira). It is available in many vibrant colours such as pink, white, etc. ==Species==