Calliandra sp.
Fairy-duster, Fairy-Duster
(c) Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Calliandra sp. (Fairy-duster) is a non-native California perennial in the Fabaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Melaleuca: Calliandra has twice-compound feathery leaves; Melaleuca has simple narrow leaves arranged spirally around stems.; vs Albizia: Calliandra grows as desert shrubs with no petiole glands; Albizia are valley/coastal trees with tiny glands on leaf stalks.; vs Mimosa: Calliandra pods curl backward dramatically when open; Mimosa pods remain flat or slightly curved.; vs Erythrostemon: Calliandra has powder-puff flowers with numerous stamens; Erythrostemon has distinct petals and 10 or fewer stamens.; vs Grevillea: Calliandra has powder-puff flowers and feathery leaves; Grevillea has tubular flowers and simple or lobed leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Calliandra sp. native to California?
No. Calliandra sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Calliandra sp. belong to?
Calliandra sp. is in the Fabaceae family, genus Calliandra.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.