Add Bright Red Color To Your Yard With A Fast-Growing Tree Hummingbirds Love

If you love bold red flowers, you're not alone. Red is also a favorite color of hummingbirds, and can help attract them to your yard. While there are a variety of beautiful red blooming plants you can grow to help attract the little birds, arguably one of the most stunning and whimsical is the red powderpuff (Calliandra haematocephala). Even better, red powderpuffs are quite fast-growing in the right conditions, so you and your feathered friends shouldn't have to wait too long to enjoy the brilliant blooms.

Native to South America, powderpuffs are hardy in USDA zones 9b through 11. Growers in colder zones can also join the fun as long as they grow their powderpuff in a container, so they can bring the plant indoors during colder months. With a height that seldom exceeds 15 feet and a dwarf cultivar called 'Nana' available that doesn't grow past 5 feet, red powderpuffs are perfect for adding some quirky tropical flair to even the smallest yards and patios.

As long as you've got the climate for them, powderpuff trees aren't particularly challenging to grow. They thrive in full to part sun and can handle a range of soil conditions as long as their growing medium is well-draining. Powderpuff trees are quite drought-tolerant once they're established as well, making them a great way to add color to your landscape while also saving money on your water bill.

In addition to delighting your local hummingbirds, powderpuffs are also a hit with butterflies and other pollinators. Depending on your preference, you can prune your red powderpuff into a small specimen tree or let it grow as a bushy shrub. Regardless of the form you opt to grow it in, your powderpuff will pair beautifully with other plants and trees which bloom with gorgeous red flowers, and is sure to make an big impression in your yard.