Q: Could you please tell me what the shrub or tree is with the red pom-pom flowers shown on the gardening section of ourbrisbane.com. It is shown in the title of the Gardening section with a parrot in it. Cam – Noosa Heads
A: Your description ‘pom-pom’ actually hits the nail on the head in terms of trying to describe the flower. The plant is a species of Calliandra, and their common names include the terms ‘Powderpuff’, ‘Fairy Duster’ and ‘Tassel Flower’, depending on which particular species they are.
Calliandras are ‘exotic’ to Australia as their origins are in South and Central America. Not that this matters, for they are excellent plants, which provide some colour for long periods of time throughout the year and they are very drought resistant as well. Mostly shrubs or small trees, there are some species that have a prostrate groundcover-type growth as well.
In their native habitat they are mostly pollinated by hummingbirds, and it is therefore not surprising that our own rosellas and parakeets have taken a liking to them here in Australia.
The plant in the picture, I suspect, is Calliandra tweedii. I may be wrong as to the exact species here.
