Calliandra haematocephala (forum)

davewastech starts with ...
Common name = Red powderpuff tree". Gorgeous shrub, very common around Cairns.

Does anybody know if this tree grows well in Sydney, near coast? (I think I have seen it here somewhere).
Also does anybody know where to buy one in Sydney?

Time: 20th July 2014 10:32pm

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About the Author davewastech
WILLOUGHBY EAST, NSW
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sternus1 says...
There's plenty of seed on ebay, but no plants as far as I can see. Daleys sell something similar, the powderpuff lillypilly:

http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/plant/Syzygium-Wilsonii-Subsp-Wilsonii-Powderpuff-Lilly-Pilly.htm

Time: 21st July 2014 6:15am

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About the Author sternus1
Australia
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denise1 says...
I think the seeds are out of season, but if there are still last seasons seed around they should still grow.

Time: 21st July 2014 7:45am

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About the Author denise1
auckland NZ
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Linton says...
Yes.....Easy! Calliandras will grow well in Sydney.

I have Calliandra Tweedii in my garden which flowers almost continuously year round with amazing crimson red flowers, except for now in mid winter. It looks identical to C.haematocephala so I don't know what the difference is. I had it sent by a seller in Bundaberg but they don't usually show it on their stocklist.

The Melbourne Botanic Gardens has a large Calliandra tree which is often in flower also with bright red flowers.

Then there is a nursery near Gosford that has C.haematocephala listed for about $16.00 in 20cm pot. This is the link for it in case you can't find one closer.

http://www.impactplants.com.au/nursery/availability-list/

Just put Calliandra in the search field and it will come up. They are a terrific tree for the garden, very hardy and not too big. Cheers.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 21st July 2014 1:39pm

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Original Post was last edited: 21st July 2014 1:39pm

About the Author Linton
Springvale, Vic
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davewastech says...
Thanks folks,
Actually I recently found the answers to my own questions when I visited RBG Sydney Botanical Garden. There's a red calliandra flowering at the moment in the RBG Syd right next to the Garden Restaurant. Looks quite unworried by the winter cool.
Also calliandra tube stock can be bought from the RBGSyd Friends plant sales section.

Time: 28th July 2014 9:44pm

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Mike Tr says...
Calliandras are a pest in my neighbourhood and I am always ripping out red and pink seedlings from the biological pollution fest in my neighbours yard.The seeds must last 10 years in the soil.

Time: 30th July 2014 8:04am

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About the Author Mike Tr
Cairns
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davewastech says...
Interesting. Does anybody know if they are a pest in cooler climates like Sydney? I noticed that they look a bit more vigorous in Cairns, at least in winter.

Time: 1st August 2014 10:57pm

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Jan52 says...
Don't know about Sydney itself, but I got one earlier this year at Wyee Nursery - up past Gosford. A white one, but they did have pink & red also. Some years back I had a pink one in Byron Bay, it was there when I bought the place and parrots loved it (so did possums - got rid of them by wiping ammonia on the windowsill) but it didn't seem to be doing any damage. It was about a metre out from the house wall, and wasn't classed as a noxious weed up there.

Just saw the rest of the posts, what I bought was an actual plant about a metre high. Can't remember what it cost but wasn't too dear.

Time: 2nd September 2014 8:41am

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About the Author Jan52
NSW Central Coast
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davewastech says...
Hi Linton,
The Calliandra in your photo was a great choice. It is Calliandra Tweedii. It is a beautiful small tree.
The other variety Calliandra Haematocephala is similar but the leaves are bigger. Tweedii has tiny, really mimosa-like leaves. The flowers on tweedii are also slightly different, with tweedii looking more delicate.
Both can be seen in Sydney City Botanical Garden
Photo 1 is Haematocephala
Photo 2 is Tweedii


Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 23rd March 2017 6:35pm

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Original Post was last edited: 23rd March 2017 6:35pm

About the Author davewastech
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davewastech says...
I ended up planting a Haematocephala two years ago, because it was the first one I found for sale (RBG Sydney Botanical Gardens Shop)
It's grown from tube stock to about 1m so far, and has flowered a little.

Time: 23rd March 2017 6:44pm

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Vicstar says...
I have a Haematocephala that was here when I moved in 9 years ago. It is a fully grown multi-stemmed tree. Kind of like a small forest. It has grown to around 3m high and is absolutely gorgeous. I find this to be a fascinating bush.

Time: 21st January 2018 6:48am

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About the Author Vicstar
Penrith
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davewastech says...
I have found a few around here (Willoughby in Sydney). The shrub grows ok, but I'd have to say that the flowering is much more impressive in the many that I've noticed around Cairns.
Interesting that they survive the Penrith winter cool.

Time: 21st January 2018 5:19pm

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