Contact your county's Extension Service office.

Locate your office with this map
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/

Here is a link that might be useful: locate your county's Extension Service office

Hi Jean,

I AM a Master Gardener. I am also sure my agent doesn't know the plants grown in this area, because he has better things to think about than Calliandra species. I appreciate the thought, but the reason I ask questions on the Forum is because I would like gardener's personal experience, and not something off the web, or in a book- I have access to those already. Unique experiences shared by people are what i cherish and look for on the Garden Forum.

I was trying to be helpful, so I'm sorry you're so miffed.

In my area, it's often true that other Master Gardeners have have had experience with plants desired by other MGs and/or know of a source.

Sorry, I didn't mean to come off that way. I know you were trying to be helpful and I appreciate it. When i read my reply I do sound miffed, wasn't really, just frustrated. I want someone to find a source that answers all my questions, but i guess it doesn't exist.

I've been reluctant to reply because I only have direct experience with one specimen of Calliandra californica planted in the ground at my house.

It's planted adjacent to my driveway in a front garden that receives no summer irrigation, but it does benefit from runoff when I water pots on the front walk. It's about three years old, tolerates fairly severe pruning, flowers year-round and is currently about 4' tall.

Ryan

P.S. Has anyone ever actually gotten hold of a county extension agent who had useful information about anything that isn't a locally grown crop?