Calliandra eriophylla aka Fairy Duster

Calliandra eriophylla is a low shrub in the pea family, Fabaceae. Its common names include fairy duster, mesquitilla, and mock mesquite. Its native range runs from southern California to Texas and Mexico. It grows in desert and dry shrubland. This is a shrub or subshrub, rather than a tree. Its low branches form a plant about 1–4 feet [0.3–1.2 metres] tall. The form can seem plain when the plant lacks flowers. In bloom, its bright flower heads draw much more notice.

The leaves grow in an alternate pattern along the stems. Each leaf is bipinnate, with two levels of division. This gives the foliage its fine, feather-like look. A leaf usually has four main divisions, though some have six. The small leaflets range from narrow and egg-shaped to lance-shaped. The plant sheds its leaves, though some leaves may linger. Slender twigs bend in a zigzag pattern. They are gray-brown and bear fine, pale hairs. Weak spines grow in pairs at the nodes. The smooth bark starts brown and turns gray as it weathers.

The flowers form round heads in red, pink, or white. Each small flower has long stamens that create the fluffy look. These stamens, rather than large petals, give the heads their shape. Most flowering takes place in spring. A second flush may appear in fall. The blooms contrast with the shrub's fine leaves and slender stems. Their rounded form also stands out against the zigzag twigs. The name fairy duster reflects the soft look of these heads. Flower color can vary within the species; the evidence lists three colors.

The fruit is a flat, dry pod with a pea-like shape. Fine hairs cover its brown surface. At maturity, each pod bursts open and throws out its seeds. The opened halves curl and can stay on the twig. Thus, old pods may remain after they release their seeds. The species' desert range gives context for its natural growing conditions. The supplied sources do not give garden watering or soil guidance. They also provide no hardiness limits or pest and disease details. No supplied evidence establishes edible parts or safety for people and pets.