My weekly favourite.

This weeks weekly fav. is new to me and completely experimental. Theoretically it is hardy and therefore I thought, why not try! I had toyed with the idea of growing calliandra eriophylla for quite some time. I love how it is just like mimosa silk trees only small! And after the olive tree emergency re-planting I had space to reconsider. I wish I could show some zoomed out shots with the olive but truthfully it's a frightful scene with drooping foliage - lets just say Leccino is not himself at the moment.

I love the fern-like tender foliage of calliandra. This one is right up close to the walk so I will get to admire it often.

The tag says semi-ever green and I'm hoping that means mainly evergreen but for some reason I'm feeling doubtful. And from what I've read this is an early bloomer filled with pink puff balls! Most seem to suggest this bush flowers sporadically throughout summer periods of rain.

So we'll see how it does. I'm really excited about it and hoping its going into the repertoire of desert subtropicals for the PNW. What plants are you experimenting with for the first time?! Do share!

Here are the stats according to Monrovia:
Cold hardiness zones: 7-11
Light needs: full sun
Water needs: once established, needs only occasional watering
Average size: slow growing 1-3 ft. tall by 3-4ft wide
Growth: slow
Flower attribute: long bloom season
Landscape use: rock garden