PlantFiles: Woman's Tongue, Siris Tree
Albizia lebbeck

Woman's Tongue or Siris Tree (Albizia lebbeck) is a Category One Invasive by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC). It is very invasive in many natural and disturbed areas in central and southern Florida, the Keys, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and many of the Pacific Islands (zones 9a through 11). It is listed by the PIER (Pacific Islands Ecosystems At Risk) project as a species that has the possibilty to do serious potential harm to native plant species and island ecosystems.

The small to medium, yellowish, numerous seedpods reseed everywhere and abundantly, and the seeds are dispersed by birds to areas where they sprout, quickly grow into a large tree (can grow up to 30 or 40 feet high and possibly more) and quickly crowd out native plant species. Other wildlife may also spread the seeds.

In central and southern Florida and the Keys (as well as throughout the Tropics) Woman's Tongue was once popular as an ornamental landscape or shade tree. However, it is less oftenly planted today because of it's invasiveness. In Florida, they have spread into natural areas ever since they were introduced as a landscape tree, probably somewhere in the late 1800s or in the 1900s. They invade many types of habitats, including areas already invaded by other exotic invasive species in central and southern Florida (e.g., Australian Pines, Brazilian Pepper, Boston Fern, Snake Plant, Carrotwood, Melaleuca, Castor Bean, Brazilian Jasmine, Arabian Jasmine, Madagascar Periwinkle, Queen Palm, Areca Palm, Senegal Date Palm, Old World Climbing Fern, etc.), disturbed sites such as vacant lots, canal banks and canal sides, pinelands, coastal habitats (near the ocean but not with direct salt exposure), keys, wetland edges (including on the outer edges of the Everglades and other wetlands and marshes), somewhat swampy sites, scrub habitats, and many other habitats. It appears similar to a locust tree or other related species in appearance (such as tamarinds). It spreads very easily and grows quickly. It thrives in zones 9a through 11 and survives temperatures as low as around 15 degrees.

It SHOULD NOT BE PLANTED IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA OR OTHER AREAS WHERE IT CAN BECOME INVASIVE!

Florida Distribution of Albizia lebbeck by county:
Brevard
Indian River
St. Lucie
Martin
Palm Beach
Broward
Miami-Dade
Monroe (mainland and the Keys)
Collier
Lee
Charlotte
Sarasota
Manatee
Hillsborough
Pinellas
Polk
Alachua

Easy to mistake this for a locust tree or a number of other species. There are a million and a half better alternatives for this area. Before I knew what it was I planted a seed in a cup and 2 days later there was a 3" seedling in the cup. Yikes! Can you say Little shop of horrors! Class I invasive fleepc dot org

Also grows in the Bahamas.

This is a Category I invasive pest in central and south Florida according to the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. It has trashy seed pods that hang on the tree after flowering, and it reseeds everywhere.

The closest tree is 500 meters away from me, but when it blooms I can sense the sweet smell that comes from the flowers like it was planted right here next to my window.

This tree is considered invasive here in Florida but the blooms are beautiful and this tree does provide a good amount of shade. Do not plant near anything the flowers can fall on as they are messy and can stain the paint on an automobile. Its roots are shallow and will destroy a walkway, driveway, etc. if planted too close. Wildlife love the seed pods.