Baja fairy duster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baja fairy duster |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calliandra
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| Species: |
californica
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The Baja fairy duster (Calliandra californica) is a beautiful evergreen shrub. This plant grows naturally in Baja California, Mexico. In Spanish, people also call it tabardillo, zapotillo, or chuparosa.
Contents
About the Baja Fairy Duster
The Baja fairy duster is a woody plant that stays green all year. It usually grows to be about 0.6 to 1.8 meters (2 to 6 feet) tall. Its leaves look a lot like ferns. They are special because they fold up at night!
Flowers and Seeds
The flowers of the Baja fairy duster appear in early summer. They have bright red parts called stamens that look like little puffs. These flowers are very attractive to animals.
The plant also makes seed pods. These pods look like flat snow peas and are about 5 centimeters (2 inches) long. When the seeds are ready, the pods explode! This helps spread the seeds far away. After the seeds are gone, the empty, curled pods stay on the plant for a while.
Growing Conditions
The Baja fairy duster is a tough plant. It can handle cold temperatures down to about -5 degrees Celsius (22 degrees Fahrenheit). Its roots can even survive temperatures as low as -15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit).
This shrub loves the sun and grows best in full sunlight. It does not need much water, only about 25 centimeters (10 inches) each year. If it gets a little extra water, it will bloom more often. It can even bloom again in the fall!
How it Spreads
You can grow new Baja fairy duster plants in a few ways. One way is by "acid scarification." This means treating the seeds to help them sprout. Another way is by taking cuttings from the plant.
Wildlife Friends
The Baja fairy duster is a favorite plant for many animals. It attracts both bees and hummingbirds, which help to pollinate its flowers.
It is also a special "host plant" for the Marine Blue caterpillar. This means the caterpillar eats the plant's leaves. The Marine Blue caterpillar later turns into a beautiful butterfly.
Using it in Gardens
Because it is so pretty and easy to care for, the Baja fairy duster is often used in gardens. People plant it along borders or in front of other plants. It can also be a nice accent plant in the middle of a garden bed. You can even grow it in large pots!
Images for kids
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Flower and seed pods evident.
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Fruit (pod) of the Calliandra californica.
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Burst seed pods on branch of C. californica.
See also
In Spanish: Calliandra californica para niños
