Calliandra surinamensis

Calliandra surinamensis is an ornamental shrub with shiny, finely cut, green foliage, and summer flowers in white and pink plumes, it is very unique! It is a medium-sized shrub with large erect branches at the base, supporting a very dense canopy of slender stems and delicate small bipinnate leaves.  Not very hardy, its exotic appearance is best suited to coastal gardens or Mediterranean gardens with more sun and a milder climate. Its spreading shape and modest dimensions make it suitable as a specimen , or in flower beds, and even large pots on a patio! Reserve a spot for it in full sun in fertile, well-drained, moist to dry, neutral to chalky soil.

Calliandra surinamensis, commonly called Sailor's Pompom, is a shrub of the Fabaceae family, native to northern South America. Hardy to -5°C, it should be grown in a pot and moved indoors during harsh winters. It is a very ornamental bush with its delicate appearance and silky, brightly coloured flowers in summer. Tolerant of heat and occasional drought, it is especially suited to mild climate gardens.

Under favourable growing conditions, it can reach an average size of 4 m (13ft) in all directions. Initially erect, then spreading, it often forms multiple slender trunks that bear a dense canopy of small, highly branched, slender stems with small bipinnate foliage. In its native habitat, it can flower all year round, while in our climates, flowering occurs in August-September, producing plume-like and silky inflorescences that are characteristic of certain genera in this large family, including Albizia. Flowers are actually made up of very long, fluffy stamens that are white at the base and reddish-pink at the tips. Flowering is followed by the development of fruit,  long flat pods, initially green and then brown, each containing several smooth seeds. The light green leaves, evergreen or semi-evergreen depending on the severity of the winter, are alternate and very large, divided into large leaflets, themselves subdivided into small leaflets. Finally, and this is a characteristic of plants in the Fabaceae family, the roots form nodules capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen due to specific bacteria present in these organs. The root system of this small tree does not tolerate transplanting well.

Sailor's Pompom with its spreading and light and airy silhouette could be planted as a specimen to provide light shade to the patio, for example. Its flowering enhances its exotic appearance. In mild climates, it can be paired with Oleanders and Pittosporums. Care must be taken to protect its hardiness by planting it in well-drained soil, in full sun, and sheltered from prevailing winds and cold drafts.