Calliandra
Photo credit

Family: Mimosaceae (from mimos, a mimic, referring to the sensitive leaves) Subfamily of Leguminosae characterized by flowers with small petals and numerous prominent stamens.

Genus: Calliandra (from kallos, beautiful, and andros, stamen)

Species: emarginata

Dwarf Pink Fairy Duster is a small evergreen shrub featuring pink to red powderpuff blooms from spring to frost. It grows to 2-4 feet tall and tends to be round in form. The blooms are deep pink and are actually the stamens of the flower. It re-blooms in cycles from spring to killing frost.

Recommended for zones 10 and 11, it proved to be root hardy here in 8b with no protection below 20 degrees. It requires sun to partial shade and standard to poor garden soil with good drainage. It does not respond well to fertilizer use. Drought tolerant after established, it does best with regular watering.

It can be propagated from green cuttings taken in spring or by seed. This plant attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and possibly deer. It is a popular plant for bonsai use.

Plant information from Floridata, Dave’s Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden, Fine Gardening

Scrophulariaceae
Photo credit

Family: Scrophulariaceae Figwort family annual or perennial herbs with flowers with bilateral or rarely radial symmetry

Genus: Angelonia

Species: Angelonia angustifolia x Serena

Angelonia, occasionally called Summer Snapdragon, is a tough, low maintenance plant that blooms profusely in sunny gardens. Native to Mexico and the West Indies, angelonia (sometimes also called summer snapdragon) is an upright, glabrous (hairless), somewhat bushy, tropical perennial that is noted for its long summer bloom of small snapdragon-like flowers. Plants typically grow 12-18” tall. Stems are clad with narrow, oblong to lanceolate, green leaves (to 3” long) with toothed margins. Foliage is slightly aromatic. Flowers (each to 3/4” across) bloom from late spring to early fall in salvia-like narrow terminal spikes (to 8” long). The two-lipped flowers are somewhat reminiscent of snapdragon.

‘Serena’ is the first Angelonia available from seed and so is now widely available commercially. ‘Serena’ blooms with spikes of white, pink, lavender, or purple blooms beginning in late summer and continuing until frost. A compact plant 12” to 18” tall with a 12” to 14” spread, ‘Serena’ is good for hot, dry, humid and even wet garden areas. The flowers are particularly attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. It is considered an herbaceous perennial in zones 9 – 11 and an annual elsewhere, so it will survive a mild winter here. This plant does best in full sun but will tolerate some shade. Drought tolerant after established, it does best in well drained garden soil with regular watering and nutrients. ‘Serena’ Angelonia is available as seed from Parkseed, and 4” plants are widely available in April or May in most garden centers. May be propagated from stem cuttings.

Plant information from Park Seed, lSuagcenter, Fine Gardening, Floridata