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Palmbob...Smashing tree. Looks very good with your blue agave (A. sisalana????), and blue palm (Brahea?). Very nice contrast in color and texture. We had the self-seeded, semi-wild Mimosa on our property in coastal GA. I always cut one to the ground, so that it came back as a luxuriant tropical-looking shrub. Looked nice with the semi-stiff leaves of Crinums, and Manfredas. Do you know the zone rating on 'Summer Chocolate' ? If this tree stands up to DRY heat...I hope I can find one in NM.
you are correct on you palm and agave ids. No idea what it's cold rating is other than what the cold rating for the green one is... my guess is they are exactly the same.
I found and ordered a Chocolate Mimosa from a place online: Cottagefarmsdirect.com.
The customer service number on my invoice is 888 593 3644. They are located in Irvington, Alabama. They were very nice to deal with on the phone and my little bare root tree arrived to my Central Florida home promptly and in good shape.
I stuck it in a pot with regualr potting soil and within a week tiny little leafs were showing. It has not been a month since I put it in the pot and it now has many small chocolate colored leaves. I am not sure where I will put this tree yet so it will live in a pot for a while. I wanted hummingbird attracting trees as we have a little hummer that bops around our house. I hear they love Mimosas. I am considdering a White Geiger next, and, of course, Bottle Brushes.
It's a good tree, but I have yet to see a hummingbird interested in its flowers. We have lots of other flowers that attract hummingbirds so I see them here all the time... but no one seems interested in Mimosa flowers... you sure hummingbirds like those?
Only relaying what I have read online about the hummingbirds. How fast does this little tree grow? Mine is only about 18 inches tall (if that) but has put lots of little burgandy and also greenish leafing on since arriving as a 'stick' about a month ago. Since I am still in the 'planning stage' of my garden beds, I am considering where to put it - whether to allow it a 'center stage' specimen location or to keep it potted for a while till it grows to a size adequate for that spot, and purchasing a speciman of greater size for that location - perhaps a Cordia Lutea or Cordia Boissieri or even a Bottlebrush - all of which I have heard the hummingbirds love. I also have heard that the Mimosa should be kept away from drain fields. How far away is safe? I am a beginner at all this so I certainly dont want to make a costly mistake as in putting a tree too near a drain field or house foundation. Can anyone give me feedback on this?
Not sure what a drain field is, so can't tell you what a safe distance would be. This is a relatively fast growing tree here in southern California with an 18" tree probably maturing to flowering size in 3-4 years. But things tend to grow a LOT faster in Florida, so maybe even faster. Mine started out about 3' tall and is now 8' tall (3 years ago purchased) and has gone from a 2' spread to about a 25' spread in that time.
Wow. That is a fairly impressive growth rate! A drain field, BTW, is a septic tank. Some plants or trees have warnings that they seek water to the point that they will invade your pipes and / or drain fields. Not a good thing!
Well, it sounds like my little Chocolate Mimosa may quickly grow to demand a focal place. Fortunately I have a large piece of property so it will have opportunity. My main place to 'fill' right now is at the end of my sidewalk which is also the front corner of my house. I am looking to get a Yellow Gieger (AKA Cordia Lutea) before the week is out - ordered one from Home Depot. Go figure, I look all over the place and find Giegers at the local home supply store. Anyhow, I am considering it for the corner area, or maybe the Choc Mimosa. A lot depends on how big the Gieger is and how it looks. I would like to get something for that spot that fills it with some emphasis.
Oh yes - wanted to tell you, Palmbob, that I immensely enjoyed looking at your art.
