Dense, thornless shrubs spread to 1–3 feet tall and wide (30–100 cm) with pinnately compound leaves and fern-like leaflets. Note the spherical, pompom-like flowers with long, rose-pink stamens, and erect, linear seed pods. The nectar-rich flowers particularly attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

FLOWERS: February–July, rain triggered. Dense spherical clusters 1 1/2 inches wide (38 mm) have 2–15 irregular flowers with long, radiating stamens, white at base, pink towards tip. Fruit is an erect, linear, flat pod 1 1/4–2 3/8 inches long (3–6 cm) that splits open and curls when mature.

LEAVES: Alternate, deciduous, twice pinnately compound; leaflets in 7–12 pairs along midrib, each 1/8–1/4 inch long  (3–6 mm); edges smooth, surfaces with short, soft hairs. The leaves close up at night and if the plant is disturbed.

HABITAT: Sandy washes, rocky slopes, plains, mesas; desert grasslands and scrub, pinyon-juniper woodlands.

ELEVATION: 4,600–6,500 feet (1402–1980 m).

RANGE: AZ, CA, NM, TX; Mexico.

SIMILAR SPECIES: Baja Fairy Duster, C. californica, from Baja California, is more robust, has bright red flowers, and is widely used in landscaping throughout the SW. Dwarf Stick-pea, C. humilis, in the western half of NM, is a spreading, low-growing herbaceous perennial with white flowers. Shrubs in the Mimosa genus have similar pink flowers but are armed with prickles. Acacias of various genera have whitish-yellow flowers.

NM COUNTIES: SW counties in low-elevation, dry habitats: Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna.