Albizia Species, Mimosa Tree, Pink Siris, Persian Silk Tree

On Jul 19, 2021, RandyAllen from White House, TN wrote:

I began observing this species in 1960ish, in Nashville Tennessee, where I grew up. The past 60 years I have examined many and grown a few myself. When I first met my wife, she had a big one in her back yard that she loved, yet disliked the prolific progeny that she had to constantly eliminate from her fence line, flower beds, and bushes. Here at my present arboretum I have two, which I love because they blown all summer when few other trees are so fine. Every sunrise I do a walkabout of my arboretum and you can't help notice the hummingbirds and pollinators making use of the hundreds of flowers. So beautiful. To the invasive species people it is high on their list of negative plants, but like to offer my findings in Tennessee and Kentucky the past 60 years. In the uncut forest you ... read morewill find it hard to find one. In the second-growth forest you will find very very few. In the third-growth forest you find a few, but still negligible. In the fourth and fifth+ growth forest you begin to see more, like maybe a maximum of 3% of tree content. So in summary, this species will not compete with our natural forest trees in TN and KY. Only where humans have disturbed the earth will this species then become a nuisance. It should be our responsibility to control its spread since we brought it here, So I challenge all people to do their part and maintain their personal land to make it free from unwanted progeny, like I do. Thank you, Randy Allen of http://www.WhiteHouseArboretum.com

On Jun 8, 2016, LynnPritchard from Richmond, VA (Zone 7a) wrote:

It's so interesting to see all of the comments about the "Silk" tree. We have always called them mimosas, and they grow rampantly in area 7 in the Northern Neck of VA. Ours are long-lived, up to several decades and are great climbing trees for kids. However, they are very invasive; I spend a fair amount of time pulling them up. We consider them "weed" trees rather than wonderful ornamentals. I would never plant one on purpose, though I loved climbing ours as a child (we've been on this same property since 1950). The ones we enjoyed as children have died out, but there are always others coming along. There is a HUGE old one in my neighbor's yard.

On Nov 30, 2014, joozwa from Lodz,
Poland wrote:

Beautiful tree, reported hardy even to zone 6 in the United States, but not zone 6 in north-central Europe probably because of cooler summers.
Seeds are long storeable and easy to germinate, but seedlings are prone to damping-off, which is presumably seedborne. Sowing in coco coir seems to help very much.

On Mar 13, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote:

In the southeastern US, vascular wilt disease (fusarium) is becoming an increasingly common problem, which can kill this tree to the ground. Other diseases and pests are also common, including nematodes. From what I hear, I'm surprised that it still can be cultivated in the south.

These problems don't seem to be so troublesome here in the north. It's still an aggressive self-sower here in Massachusetts, but it doesn't invade natural areas. It has been declared an invasive plant pest in Florida and Tennessee.

On Jun 11, 2013, pinkscraps from St George, UT wrote:

Beautiful tree but ugly messy. Our association landscaper planted this tree right by our patio. Now the patio is covered with pink fuzzies constantly, clustering in great globs by the door mat. Any chance there's a spray to keep this tree from blooming?? Love the fern-like look which gives privacy and shade, but cannot stand the pink fuzzies.

On Aug 30, 2012, Mike_W from Sterling, MA wrote:

I purchased a Mimosa tree this past spring and it has performed well so far this summer. It's only about 2 feet tall, so I can't wait to watch it grow! The leaves are very pretty and the few mature specimens I've seen have a wonderful shape to them, a very tropical looking tree. They seem to be sort of on the rare side in this area. The only ones I recall seeing were in Boston's Franklin Park Zoo, but I happened to notice one growing in the yard of a home a few miles from my own house just this past year.

I'm not too concerned about it being invasive. The few that I've seen here in MA seem to indicate that it doesn't spread too easily in this area. I just hope mine grows to a nice size without being bothered by disease.

On Jul 12, 2012, mirshahed wrote:

silk tress is an asset of natural beauty. some person like it very much and some person less. "Silk Tree" also beautiful name. it is not also costly to grow. some care is enough to planting.

On Jun 18, 2012, QualitySilkPlants from Corona, CA wrote:

Great information however I had an easy time crowing the silk tree in my back yard in Southern California. It seems like the climate is perfect for this tree and as long as you keep it watered it won't die.

On Apr 27, 2012, Annietree from Colonial Heights, VA wrote:

I love this tree, and it makes me sad how it gets criticized. This is the most beautiful, fragrant tree in the world, and it makes me happy to have one in my yard. Whenever I feel bad, my mimosa cheers me up. The ferny leaves close up at night, and I think that's sweet. It does draw a lot of birds and butterflies. People always ask me what kind of tree it is. I have no problem with the blossoms. It blooms all summer, unlike most trees which only bloom briefly in the early spring. They are gorgeous and well worth it. They drop on the ground, so what, they wither and dissolve into the ground or are chewed up by the lawn mower. Never an issue, how can people be so nitpicky? Also the 'invasive' argument is ridiculous. I have seen a mimosa be in an area for years and never spread. In neighborho... read moreods, the lawn mower usually takes care of any unwanted volunteers, and on the roadsides, let them grow, what a nice way to break up the monotony of pines and oaks! They are far less bothersome than a 'native' sweet gum with those awful gumballs, and far prettier. And think about it, except for the Indians, we are ALL 'invasive species' this country, it's not realistic to think you can maintain an ecosystem from 400 years ago, things do change over time. As much damage as HUMANS have done to the enviornment, I don't want to see anybody whining about a little pink tree!!!!

On Aug 29, 2011, Readerwoman from Golden Valley, AZ wrote:

What I am seeking is some information on what might be eating our mimosas! We live in NW Arizona, about 3,000 ft. elevation, and have three of the trees. Two are being attacked, in a pattern that looks to be from the top down. They were planted about a year or so ago, and are about 7' tall. They were fine in the early summer, with lovely blossoms and sturdy growth. Our immediate yard is fenced, and we have started closing the driveway gates to keep the burros and larger animals out - but they couldn't reach that high anyway, unless they are/were pulling at the branches to lower them for nibbling! Branches are disappearing, as well as leaves, but they seem to be leaving the pods alone. HELP!
They don't seem to be invasive here, the climate prevents it, I think, and we keep the runner... read mores trimmed off.
Any ideas as to what pest/critter could be attacking these trees, and how to prevent it? Thanks (oh, and the third tree is in a different location - about 20 yards away)

On Aug 2, 2011, loomis from Las Vegas, NV (Zone 9a) wrote:

Great tree for Las Vegas, our lovely desert and lack of rain keeps this tree in check. It can take our full sun. Its kind of ironic that some of the best trees that are invasive in other parts of the US do really well here. I planted one a couple of years ago on the south side of my house and it keeps chugging along. Average water usage in Vegas for this tree.

On Jun 6, 2011, Tsumi from Hampton Bays, NY wrote:

I love the mimosa tree. We used to have them on a small peninsula where I live, and after years, they disappeared. I'm curious to know if deer are attracted to the flowers or seeds? If anyone has the answer I would appreciate it. I'm getting ready to plant 3 small new trees and want to protect them from any invaders! Thanks!

On Jun 2, 2011, FlyPoison from Rock Hill, SC (Zone 7a) wrote:

Introduced by French botanist André Michaux in the late 18th century in his formal garden in Charleston, SC, this tree is considered highly invasive. Granted, it's a beautiful specimen but it can really crowd out native plants. I took one out near my home 3 years a go, yet it still sends up new shoots. I plan to hit it directly by cutting the roots and applying roundup. It will be eradicated!


The roots of the plant can literally spread hundreds of feet and in the right environment it can reach heights of over 100'. I've seen some huge specimens while hiking locally that I didn't recognize at first due to their girth and height.

On May 31, 2011, ladyisle from Bohemia, NY (Zone 7a) wrote:

I have three that a good friend gave me. Beautiful and no bothersome seedlings.

On May 30, 2011, GrammyRose from Livermore, CA wrote:

My neighbor planted this beautiful tree in 1972, had it dug up several years later and I STILL find seedlings once in a while. It is horribly invasive - the negative comments made by others are only too true for me also. Your neighbors will be thankful if you choose an alternative!

On May 30, 2011, vanislandgirl from Ladysmith, BC wrote:

I live here in Ladysmith on Vancouver Island. And the trees do fairly well here. A sudden heavy wet snow fall killed one last winter. It was in full leaf and the snow did a lot of damage. But have since been given another to replace it. Have another in my front garden. They are fairly easy to keep pruned back. Just love the flowers and the beautiful look of the leaves and branches.

On May 30, 2011, machaut from Natick, MA wrote:

When we moved into our house 25 years ago there was a small mimosa in the yard. It was early July, and the tree was gorgeous, filling our house with its perfume.

We live in Zone 5 and were surprised to see it, but there's another one a few blocks away (of impressive size) so they clearly can make it in our climate.

The bark is susceptible to injury and sections of the tree periodically rot and fall away. At least once a hurricane has toppled it. But new shoots always come back to replace it and within a few years we again have a tree. It doesn't mind being pruned (even drastically) when it begins to shade out the perennials and vegetable garden near it.

Yes, it's messy, but nothing a rake can't take care of. Yes, it reseeds, but most of the se... read moreedlings get mowed down with the grass, and the ones that show up in the garden beds are easy to pull. Occasionally we pot one up for a friend, and we have allowed one to grow at the front of the house as well, where neighbors can enjoy its elegant flowers and scent.

Looking down into it from an upstairs window, having the rooms filled with perfume on the early morning breeze... definitely worth the small trouble of taking care of it.

On May 9, 2011, CrispyCritter from Clayton, GA wrote:

I marked my comment as neutral as I can see the pros and cons of this tree.
This is really the one plant I can remember from early childhood. Long before I developed an interest in gardening or plants, I was fascinated with this strange other worldly looking tree. The fern like leaves and strange hairy pink flowers always caught my attention.
As an adult, am into "tropicalesque" gardening and landscaping now and have some of these Mimosas as focal points amongst the cannas, cold hardy bananas, palms, flowers I have in my yard. They are a perfect complement to this type of landscape.

On the OTHER HAND though, there is no doubt that this plant can be quite invasive if unchecked. I lived on a large old farm in the same area here in the North Georgia mountains ... read moreand there were hundreds of mimosas. The friend that owned the property hated them and would ruthlessly attack, chop down, and burn as many as he could each year. He never made a dent in the population.
Some of them could grow 6 feet in one summer.
The wood is brittle and there were numerous trees with cracked trunks and mold problems on this farm..

I plan to keep close attention on the 3 or so medium to large mimosas I have on my own property and keeping them managed so that they don't get out of hand like on my friend's property.

On Mar 30, 2011, mimosa12 from East Providence, RI wrote:

first lightning hit it so it grew double trunks, then ants ate it causing one half to fall on my house I .had it removed and stump grinded and I am still pulling on little trees every summer a.nd probably will still be at age 80 or when hell freezes over. The seeds were so light they now have the trees on the next two streets over and I even saw one growing out of a sewer drain. They also liked to grow close to my fondation wall caus
ing damage to the skimmed wall and I had to repair it. Yes they are pretty but I prefer to look at them from a distance

On Sep 2, 2010, kfactor43 from Hillsboro, NH (Zone 5a) wrote:

Soon after buying her first home in Wolcott, CT, in 1965, my mother received a small Mimosa tree from a relative. In consideration of our higher elevation and comparatively harsh winters at the time, she planted the young tree in a sheltered ell of the house with southeastern exposure. The Mimosa eventually grew into a beautiful specimen of a tree. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of summer days spent playing in the backyard beneath its sprawling canopy, as warm breezes filled the air with the peachy aroma of its blooms.

Three years ago, Mom brought me a tiny Mimosa - about the size of my index finger - that had self seeded from its still thriving parent into one of her potted plants. That little progeny - now 5' tall and 8' wide - is in a large pot on my south faci... read moreng deck, and is blooming this year for the very first time. Ironically, my tree would originate from the last crop of seeds that the Wolcott tree would produce. It died the following year, after a 40+ year lifespan.

My Mimosa will probably spend its entire life in a pot - indoors from October thru April - as I have my doubts that it would survive a New Hampshire winter if planted outside. It has proven to be quite a spectacle on my deck. The Mimosa is such an anomaly in this area that everyone who sees it is fascinated by it.

On Aug 27, 2010, Marcyphish from Golden Valley,
United States wrote:

As a desert tree you can't ask for much more. Due to lack of moisture and nutrition in the ground the Mimosa stays where you put it. But she is tuff enough to grow in alkaline soils and adds beautiful color all summer long.

On Aug 23, 2010, Mulebone1 from Garwood, TX wrote:

We discovered quite by accident how to keep the mimosa flowers from making a mess. After buying a peacock and peahen, we were surprised to see them eat every flower that the tree drops. They never ate flowers that were still on the tree, though. The only thing they seemed to like better were the tent caterpillars which were (badly) infesting our pecan trees. It didn't take long before the ground under the large mimosa was completely cleaned up and our pecan trees were caterpillar free! This was about 25 years ago when we lived in central Louisiana.

On Aug 23, 2010, annhelen from Townsend, GA wrote:

There is something magical about this tree. I had a treehouse (a platform, really) in one when I was a child and had many spiritual experiences there. Please never call it a scurge, nor deny it the extension of itself with its seed. I am an author and wrote one of my best short stories about my childhood entitled "Mimosa" (so called for many years in the south). The scent was so inexpressibly lovely (no pollen problem for me) and I climbed up it nearly every day (no problems with bark). Lying flat on my "floor" I would watch the gentle, delicate fronds moving in the breeze, inhale the delightful little-girl scent and love God. Please don't call it a pest.

On Jul 31, 2010, PammiePi from Green Cove Springs, FL wrote:

This is considered an invasive plant here in Florida, but I actually like this tree. I think it is beautiful, & slow enough in growth to be controlled. I found a young tree growing along side the road & transplanted it in my yard. Initially, it looked like it had died. To my surprise, the following spring, the tree re-appeared, and has since grown into a beautiful mature tree. It is one of my favorites in the yard.

While it does produce seed pods, I have not found any evidence of it appearing any where else in my yard or lower lot, which leads me to believe the seeds don't have a high germination rate (and so are not too invasive).

I'd have to give this tree a Positive vote, based on it's beauty, ease of growth, and unique qualities (leaves & flowers).

On Jun 5, 2010, MickeyNotD from Hialeah, FL wrote:

I love these trees. I read a lot of comments, both positive and negative, but no one (at least from what I've read) mentions how totally delicious the flowers smell! Aside from being a beautiful tree, they are so light and tropical looking that it makes me happy just looking at them! Did I say I love these trees?

On May 22, 2010, MinxFox from Pensacola, FL (Zone 9a) wrote:

This is a really enjoyable plant. Sure it can be somewhat invasive, but it really isn't that horrid. In our backyard we have a beautiful mimosa tree. The tree's shape reminds me of an African tree because of the umbrella-like top and the leaves have a unique shape. The tree is a favorite perch for birds, and it does provide some very wonderful cool shade. It probably is best not to have it close to a pool just because it does have many flowers that will fall all over and seed pods too, but it is not much trouble. I would warn that it can cause an alergic reaction...I once climbed the tree and found out that if you touch the bark and then accidentally rub your eyes the next day you might wake up with your eyelids sealed shut with crust, but you can use a cloth to help get the crust off. We ... read moreare in zone 8 and our tree doesn't seem to have little babies popping up everywere. The flowers smell great and look very pretty in your hair or in an arangement.

On Jan 13, 2010, bed24 from San Francisco, CA (Zone 10a) wrote:

I moved to Denver from Atlanta (where these trees are everywhere) and was absolutely shocked to find an established mimosa growing near downtown. I think it's potentially good choice for Denver because as a native to south/central Asia it's very drought tolerant but probably marginally cold hardy and unlikely to be invasive.

On Oct 16, 2009, purplesun from Krapets,
Bulgaria (Zone 8a) wrote:

There hardly is anything to say about Silk Tree that hasn't been said before. Here, in Bulgaria, this is a much planted, if exotic-looking tree. There are adult specimens even in the capital Sofia, which is one of the cooler and colder places in Bulgaria. Elsewhere, they benefit even more from the summer heat and are happy in just about any type of soil.
Silk tree has not become a weed however and is not bothered by diseases, though it is a very short-lived lanscape element. Of course, there is the litter problem, so anyone with a pool or other high-maintenance area should think twice before planting a silk tree.
I personally have a lukewarm attitude to this tree, though when I first saw it as a child outside an airport on the Black Sea coast, I was highly impressed by it.... read more /> Reading all the negative comments, I can say that people here have had none of the weed problems with silk tree, thank god.

On Sep 13, 2009, LadyAethelwyne from Harriman, TN wrote:

This is the worst tree thar I have ever dealt with! My Aunt has one next door, and every summer I am pulling out saplings from under my arbor, in my Irises, next to my house, everywhere!
The saplings grow like nothing I've seen, from a sprout to a 6 foot tree in no time, if left unchecked. Last year, I paid a friend to cut down two trees. This year, they are back and over 8 ft tall.
The flowers have left dust all over my car and seem to be ruining my paint job. I can't park anywhere else; my driveway and her backyard with the mimosa connect!
Along our rural route, there used to be nice green hillsides of native trees and a creek running alongside. Now, the creek is choked with mimosa trees and the hillsides are a dense jungle and it has to be constantly trimmed so mo... read moretorists can safely travel the road.
I really hate this plant. It has taken over my garden, which I can't simply mow down but have to pull them out (and they are tought to pull out) one back breaking sprout at a time!

On Aug 26, 2009, kitawhit from Houston, TX wrote:

I find it so funny how many people are against this tree. Instead of complaining,they COULD be utilizing the tree as long as it is there. You can EAT the flowers as a vegetable, and you can even use it in place of an antidepressant according to Chinese herbology. also check out it's other medicinal qualities. or maybe ask a Chinese herbal doctor.
If you have too many weeds, consider selling those little weedlings. It may be a pest for You, but it's not a pest for everyone. It doesn't spread like wildfire EVERYWHERE (even though i live in Texas,i rarely have a seedling from it). For many in other places , it is a treasured plant, and those who don't like it, can share their bounty with those who have trouble coming by it. If it acts like a weed for them, they COULD mulch... read more more like any other weed. As for taking over native plants, I do regret that, but the world is changing. I look at my city and all the plants used in people's yards and used most often in landscaping and very rarely do I see a "native plant". Over time, new native plants will develop,i guess. The Earth is constantly changing (us bringing in the most change) and we can adapt with it. In the meantime, see what wonders this plant can do medicinally speaking unlike many of those others most often used in landscaping. It's a blessing in disguise to people to this hectic harsh world we've created. Please don't judge this plant until you know the benefits and please be flexible with this changing world.

On Jul 31, 2009, MrsBerger07 from Rockmart, GA wrote:

I had never seen a Mimosa until I moved to the Georgia. At first I loved them with all of their Beautiful flowers, they seemed to glow. Now, we live in a more rural area, and they are Everywhere! They have taken over!! My husband and I spend hours upon hours every year pulling up seedlings from everywhere imaginable! They are very messy trees to boot, and the flowers stick to everything! They grow in areas even moss won't grow under our 19, 30yr old Water Oak trees! I highly discourage any use of Mimosa in landscaping, especially in the South where it is such a menace that pushes out the native species.

On Jun 28, 2009, texzilla from Mansfield, TX wrote:

This is an invasive, destructive, invasive pest of a plant. It is a noxious weed masquerading as a tree. It destroys habitat, native plants, and physical structures. Show some responsibility and refuse to plant them; if you own them eradicate them.

These trees gained popularity for their rapid growth after WWII. An awful mistake that many communinities in Texas and the South are now paying for.

Why do nurseries sell them? The same reason restaurants still sell Chilean Sea Bass; fools with no sense of community responsibility will buy them because "they smell good" or they provide someone's sorry life with a bit of nostalgia. The South has enough invasive pests like kudzu, fireants, and walking catfish without folks willfuilly planting them.

... read more/> My house adjoins a home that the former owner had a large planting of mimosa. They were so big they had grown entwined around a metal fence and pushed it out of the ground. The shoots have spread to the greebelt behind my home and I spend more gardening time killing mimosa shoots than doing something productive. A shoot in the other neighbors yard got away from him and killed a nice live oak. the result has been thousands of dollars spent to eradicate, mitigate, or prevent damage from this pest.

Do the world a favor and refuse to plant this pest.

On May 20, 2009, pinkb31 from Baytown, TX wrote:

I love my mimosa. Grows best in full sun. I never tend to it.
(TEXAS) It gives perfect shade for my front yard which is only about 105ft in length.
my family enjoys the smell and the insects,hummingbirds that are attracted to the flowers. The birds like perching.(i put a bird bath under it)
I mow my yard so i don't have any trouble with the seedlings that sprout up. I use organic fertilizer for the grass once a year which makes the flowers a darker pink.
The only thing i don't like is that it is not an evergreen.
If you are hesitant to grow any plant/tree,look for someone who is growing it or for online pictures that may give you an idea if it's right 4 your yard.

On Sep 8, 2008, nydia from Kissimmee, FL wrote:

I used to live in New York (Bronx) we lived in a story house and we had this tree in our yard and it was a pleasure to look out my window and see this beautiful tree in full bloom . Better than looking at a five story apartment building.

On Aug 15, 2008, Ariellah from Sneedville, TN wrote:

This plant may be invasive but it has so much to offer mankind, so it must be preserved. Most planst that are invasive are usually valuable medically and the mimosa is no exception.

For over thousands of years the bark of the Mimosa has been used to treat lesions of the skin. For hikers hurt and bleeding this is a benefit to have growing nearby. Mimosa root bark contains 16% tannins, which act as an astringent, making the skin stop bleeding. This helps protect the body from infection, while the skin's cells repairs DNA and builds new protective tissue.

In 1984, 5000 burn victims were helped with powdered Mimosa bark because the bark in this form is also a pain killer for many hours.

Its also a natural dewormer for woodland creatures. I won't l... read moreet this beautiful tree grow in my browse areas because the green leaves can and has caused deformities in goat/sheep kids if too much is eaten by a pregnant doe however I do cut down some small branches and let each of my girls take a few nibbles each month because it also will deworm my goats naturally.

On the ecological/symbiotic side;
A species of beetle; oncideres, finds exclusively a mimosa tree, which she finds and climbs, lay her eggs,which she does by crawling out on a limb,cutting a longitudinal slit with her mandible and deposits her eggs. Now beetle larvae cannot survive in living wood, so she backs up about a foot and for about 8 hours cuts a neat circular girdle all around the limb, through the bark and down into the cambium then she leaves. The limb dies from the girdling, falls to the ground with the next wind storm and the larvae feed and grow into the next generation.

Left to themselves, an unpruned mimosa tree has a life span of twenty-five to thirty years. Pruned each year, which is what the beetle’s girdling labor accomplishes, the tree can flourish for a century. The mimosa/beetle relationship is an elegant example of symbiotic partnership.

On Jul 5, 2008, gaylaintucson from Tucson, AZ wrote:

I have not found one person here in Tucson that hates this tree. Its simply outstanding! I had mine in a big pot for the first 3 years and then planted it beside my pond when I moved. It does make for some clean up in the pond, but the wonderful shade it brings makes it worth it. The humming birds love it! I found it to be slow growing and I never have had it reproduce from seed, sadly. I wish I had ten.

On Jun 15, 2008, rgsurrett from Raleigh, NC wrote:

My mother lives in an older part of Raleigh NC and I take care of her yard. I have planted lots of Azaleahs and Gardenias in her yard, a few rose bushes with no luck, then suddenly from nowhere a Mimosa starts growing right at the edge of the front porch beside the house, almost looks as it if is coming from under the house. It has grown so fast this year that is is growing over into the dogwood planted in the front yard.

My mother loves the tree, as do I, but are unsure of what to do (cut it down or just prune it), any suggestions. I also just noticed another one growing in front of the house inside of an azalea, small one about 2 feet tall.

This is the first one I've seen in this neighborhood. On another note, her backyard has bamboo growing like wil... read moredfire, but that is another story.

On May 14, 2008, Puffy1 from Qualicum Beach, BC (Zone 8a) wrote:

I live on Vancouver Island and just got this tree as a house warming gift. Hope it does well here and isn't "marginal" or invasive either for that matter. Will keep it away from the driveway just in case!

On Apr 17, 2008, leighgalv from Galveston, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:

Read alot of the posts - you either love it or hate it....and yes I can attest to it becoming an invasive plant. In th spring, the dogwood, redbud and azalea blooming wild along the roads in East Texas area near Woodville. And right up there with all that beauty in the summer, the mimosa makes its wild display along the roadways, and it is beautiful too. So much so, I wanted one in our yard at the lake house. I have several coming up in the yard without myself going through all the trouble!

I have to tell the guys not to mow over my mimosa!! We'll see!

On Mar 25, 2008, 1cros3nails4gvn from Bluffton, SC (Zone 9a) wrote:

this tree is the tree that first sparked my interest in plants and got me growing all these different kinds of plants that i am today

On Feb 26, 2008, steve16 from Sacramento, CA wrote:

Our neighbor has a mimosa that overhangs the fence. Mounds of pink fuzz all over our parsley and basil and tangled in the pepper plants, seedlings popping up everywhere. This past summer I laid a ransom bluestone patio around our small exercise pool. I was despairing of being able to get the mossy thyme started quickly enough to fill in between the stones before trying to sweep, hose and vacuum off the next years avalanche of sticky pink fluff, when our neighbor told us she finally convinced her husband to take it out so she can have a garden in the area now underneath it. We promptly volunteered to share the cost, and she offered us the wood for our fireplace.

On Feb 23, 2008, parkersford from Salem, MO wrote:

Too invasive. If attracting butterflies is your objective, you would be better off planting a couple of butterfly bushes (buddleia) or some milkweed. Even though my two ten year old mimosa trees have never flowered, they somehow still manage to produce tons of seedlings all over the yard.

On Jan 7, 2008, FG from Redlands, CA wrote:

Yes they are messy, but I use them as sun shades for my yard. I have 12 evenly spaced but only let them get about 12 feet tall. Makes nice filtered shade with little care here in California.

On Sep 21, 2007, escambiaguy from Atmore, AL (Zone 8b) wrote:

These trees are a total weed in the southeast. Every time I see the flowers, I think of the backache involved in pulling the seedlings. They do look out of place growing next to our native trees and I think they look trashy.

On a recent vacation to the Smokey Mountains, I was amazed to see mimosas growing there too. That's one place I thought I could go and not have to see this weed!

On Sep 6, 2007, lissyrae from Old Hickory, TN wrote:

People, PLEASE STOP planting these things! Yes, they are pretty, but they are also destroying our already threatened southern forrests! This is not hyperbole - drive down any southern highway or through the Smokies or the Blueridge Mountains, and you will see them everywhere along the roadsides. They are one of several exotic species slowly outcompeting our native trees and shrubs. Are you REALLY so selfish you're willing to endanger our native fauna and flora over some LANDSCAPING? Please stop and consider the consequences. There are lots of beautiful native and exotic but non-invasive alternatives. :)

On Jul 1, 2007, Bootheel from New Madrid, MO wrote:

Although I agree they are pretty, they compete too well with native species on forest edges and can become so dense that they will crowd out other plants. They can take over a stream bank in just a few years. Plant one and you will leave a legacy of sprouts for up to 50 years, that is how long the seeds can remain dormant before coming up in you favorite bed, where you will find it fast growing and nearly impossible to pull and a pain to dig. The only kind thing I can think of is that as a child I found it easy to carve initials and hearts in the trunk. This is one that would have been better left in Asia.

On May 10, 2007, joegee from Bucyrus, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:

Grows well for me in 5b/6a north Central Ohio. It easily endured a horribly warm winter followed by -8F and a blizzard. I know that keeping this tree will take work. I know I will need to be responsible with it, but I remember the incredible, subtle fragrance that permeated the air in South Carolina.

I want that in my back yard.

On a side note, I tried smaller seedlings a few years ago and all were killed by the winter cold, so I'm suspecting that up here this tree will be fairly well behaved.

On Apr 18, 2007, marcia9 from Kearneysville, WV wrote:

I grow these in my yard in Kearnesyville, West Virginia.

They grow in all parts of West Virginia; we just love ours and I name them with their own personal names as they ae so much a part of our family. They bring us shade and are a comfort to look at. Marcialynn

On Apr 6, 2007, babynuts43 from Fort Worth, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

I have loved these trees for as long as I can remember and when I finally bought my own house, I transplanted one from my folks' place in North Carolina. Man was I excited! However, while the tree has really grown fast, it has yet to bloom in the four years it has been growing. The other thing I have noted is that it loses almost all of it's "leaves" before the summer is over. I must admit the whole tree thing is new to me so maybe I am just being impatient. I cannot find any information on this particular problem so I guess I will continue to wait...but if nothing happens in the next couple of years, I think I will just have to replace it with some other kind of tree.

On Feb 22, 2007, Delmobile from Mobile, AL wrote:

Just wanted to add, my grandmother, who was born in New Orleans in 1901, told me when she was little she and her sisters would make necklaces using mimosa seeds and cantaloupe seeds that they dyed different colors using dyes they made, mulberries and things like that. Their big day was when they sold a necklace to their teacher for a quarter. Now I love mimosa trees for this story, as well as their beauty.

On Dec 19, 2006, frostweed from Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

Silk Tree, Mimosa Tree, Pink Siris Albizia julibrissin is naturalized in Texas and other States and is considered an invasive plant in Texas.

On Dec 2, 2006, blossombloom from Griffin, GA wrote:

Some people love this "tree" while others cant stand it. For me I called this so called tree a weed! To me it serves no purpose. Its VERY invasive and hard to get rid of. I just go over the lawn more with it now but will eventually have to do something else.

On Sep 5, 2006, dcamanda from Alexandria, VA (Zone 7a) wrote:

I wish I could say "EXTREMELY NEGATIVE". Through my experiences with this plant, there's nothing I consider attractive about it. I spent a stint in the National Park Service where this plant was on our top 10 list of invasives to kill. Dave's Garden, PLEASE take this off this list and put it on the list of thugs! Small wonder its only competitors are Pawlomia and Japanese honeysuckle -- two other Japanese invasives! Stop it! Stop it!

As with other non-native invasives, please, help out this lovely country of ours and try to select NATIVE plants with comparably attractive properties if at all possible.

On Aug 20, 2006, nonillion from West Brookfield, MA (Zone 5b) wrote:

The invasive Mimosa (Albizzia julibrissin) should not be confused with our Texas native Fragrant Mimosa (Mimosa borealis), which is a wonderful fast-growing shrub (to 9 feet tall) and very low maintenance.

The Austin Grow Green program recommends planting a Desert WIllow (Chilopsis linearis) instead of the invasive Mimosa.

On Aug 11, 2006, lemmons75 from Rock Hill, SC wrote:

I live in an apartment in Rock Hill,S.C. and this tree grows on the creek bank behind my apartment.I think it is a wonderful tree.It atracts alot of humming birds and butterflies.When I get my house I plan to take some of the seeds to plant.

On Jul 21, 2006, tropicalaria from Tri-Cities, WA (Zone 7b) wrote:

Beautiful specimen tree, not at all invasive here, possibly due to the lack of rainfall, low humidity, and alkali soil of Eastern Washington State. Can be difficult to start, but quite dependable once established. Rarely lasts more than 30-50 years because the brittle wood breaks in the high winds once it gets large and old. I have never seen a severely damaged tree recover here, in contrast to the comments above which indicate that it comes back from the stump in other parts of the country.

On Jun 30, 2006, palmbob from Acton, CA (Zone 8b) wrote:

Was very interesting to read all the above opinions about this tree. I was not familiar with its invasiveness, but then that is a regional problem, mostly. Here in dry, deserty southern California, few things are as invasive as they are in the wet eastern half of the country. This plant is grown commonly here as a stately and fascinating landscape specimen- one of the few horizontal forming silohuettes you can grow here. And as for invasiveness, I have not heard of a problem here. It can show up in potted plants that get watered all the time, but rarely, if ever, does it reproduce itself, at least here somewhat inland in southern California. Sadly, it is messy, and loses its leaves in the winter.

On Jun 30, 2006, Sheila965 from Rincon, GA (Zone 8a) wrote:

This tree is the most invasive nuisance ever. If there is one within 50 miles, you can bet you're going to have seedlings in your yard. They sprout EVERYWHERE.

The only cute thing I did notice the other day on my neighbor's tree was that the hummingbirds enjoy it. I've got all sorts of beautiful flowers that "supposedly" hummingbirds love...they head for the Mimosa.

On Jun 19, 2006, croclover from Lake Forest, CA (Zone 10a) wrote:

I live in Lake Forest, CA, and the city planted a few dozen along one of the main roads just a year or two ago and they're thriving, in bloom right now and breathtaking! I just bought my very first home, and I have always said I would plant an albizia in the front yard, so I just bought a five gallon baby! Can't wait to chop and grind out my diseased apricot tree and watch this little lovely grow! Sure, it will be a mess, but nature tends to be a bit messy, so I don't mind! It can't be any worse than pulling up the hundreds of suckers that come up from my apricot tree all over the lawn each week!

On Jun 6, 2006, ASSISI from Riverside, RI wrote:

I live in Rhode Island and I started 4 silk trees from seed 3 years ago. They are now 3 ft. tall and I wonder when they will be ready to plant outside. This is an enjoyable plant to watch grow. They drop there branches often and readily return--only taller.

On May 18, 2006, Equilibrium wrote:

Hideously invasive yet intoxicatingly beautiful tree. Perhaps this is why this species has become so predominant in our yards as well as in natural areas where it is appearing as it repeatedly escapes cultivation.

On May 8, 2006, ncgardenaddict from Kannapolis, NC (Zone 7b) wrote:

I am confused why this plant is in the 'top ten' list... It is highly invasive and should be in the top ten thug list..

On Mar 23, 2006, gooley from Hawthorne, FL (Zone 8b) wrote:

Yes, it's pretty. I'll take people's word that it attracts hummingbirds. It's officially a noxious weed in Florida, too. It's very hard to get rid of. I'm forever finding volunteer ones on my land (it loves disturbed sites such as former cropland.). I will gladly show any visitor several large fields near me, notably one along State Road 326 north of Ocala, that are covered with the blasted trees. I have sprayed small ones with Roundup, wet the leaves completely -- and it's a crapshoot whether this will kill them; sometimes it does, sometimes a new sucker comes up if the roots haven't quite been poisoned. These trees are unusual for legumes in that they don't host symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria -- but somehow they seem to thrive in truly miserable soil without them. They are n... read moreot as acute an ecological threat here as the Chinese tallow-tree (with its fish-poisoning leaves), but they are a lot more cold-hardy than the other big regional pest, the camphor-tree. Oh, and the Chinese wisterias are in bloom now...another invader. Lovely.

On Jan 1, 2006, dragonvirus from Maryville, TN wrote:

ok, so i spent time worrying about how to get rid of this plant (grows invasively) and have discovered wonderful uses for it.

1) carving/walking sticks
2) firewood.

On Dec 17, 2005, Kim_M from Hamburg, PA (Zone 6b) wrote:

All I can say is...This is one of the most beautiful Trees I've ever seen.

On Oct 25, 2005, ineedacupoftea from Denver, CO wrote:

This is a perfect small desert-hardy tree. It's leaves close in adverse weather and can bloom all summer when happy. I met a woman who grew seedlings in pots, planted them in the spring, watched them do little during the first summer, only to see them die to the ground but send up 5-7' canes the following spring. At the end of the third year, she had mature flowering trees! She did not seem to have problems with seedlings taking over -exept where she encouraged it!

I can think of no small tree that casts a finer shimmering shade.

On Aug 30, 2005, leaflady from Hughesville, MO (Zone 5a) wrote:

My husband's mother planted our old one over 50 years ago and it is still doing well. However I never had any volunteers until about 2 years ago when I got some seeds apparently in some bags of leaves we get from a nearby town each fall. Now we have little volunteers all over the place! I have allowed a few to grow and they are doing well. We do not notice any fragrance and do not find they attract hummingbirds or anything else for that matter.

We love ours. It grows out in the middle of the yard and has never frozen back or had any wind damage from the hard winds and tornadoes that so frequently hit our area. I would not rate their wood as soft for that reason.

On Aug 20, 2005, GFT from Biloxi, MS wrote:

Few people in the deep south bother to plant Mimosa for the simple fact that it so often volunteers of its own accord. The tree grows wild in subtropical areas, and it is often found in empty lots, on the side of the road, and so forth. If you want to place one in your yard, simply dig one up and transplant it--or more simply still cut off a branch, apply rooting hormones, and stick it in the ground. Very often, although not always, it will quickly establish itself.

Mimosa can grow up to forty feet but I find it more typically runs to a maximum of twenty feet. It has a comparatively small trunk and a remarkably wide branch spread. The feather-like leaves are extremely attractive and the pink flowers, which look rather like powderpuffs, are striking and have memorable pe... read morerfume. The tree is also very forgiving in terms of care, requiring little more than the occasional pruning.

But like every other plant, Mimosa does have drawbacks, and it is best to know what they are before you place one in your yard. The tree tends to be brittle; branches can break in strong wind and if the higher branches become too heavy the trunk itself can split. The tree usually recovers from this, but it can affect its beauty.

The tree is also rather messy. The leaves pose no greater issue than any other tree, but the flowers are sticky--and when they drop they tend to stick where they land. If you are fussy about your walkway or driveway, you would be a fool to plant Mimosa where it will overhang them. The flowers are also notoriously hard on auto paint jobs; God forbid you should plant a Mimosa where it will overhang an unprotected car. Although the tree can spread through it's paper-like seed pods, it also spreads through it root system. This is really less of a problem than you might think: keeping the lawn reasonably well mown will solve the problem.

Lastly, Mimosa is not a long-lived tree. Although you hear of Mimosas that live twenty, thirty, even forty years, their span is more typically five to fifteen years. You are therefore likely to be faced with the necessity of cutting down a dead or dying Mimosa at some point or another--but given their brittle nature this is actually less trouble than it may sound.

Given the fact that Mimosa tends to volunteer and now and then appear where it is not wanted, a great many people tend to consider it akin to a weed. But if it is a weed, it is a remarkably beautiful one, and well worth the thought required in placement and the occasional bit of work involved.

On Jun 8, 2005, RRRupert123 from Solon, IA wrote:

We live a valley in Iowa (zone 5a) and it seems like we aren't as cold as other places here. We have been to Arkansas and South Carolina and they have them (Albizia julibrissin trees) there. When I first saw one, I said that I had to have it, but i didn't have time to dig it up. I've heard of people having it in zone 5b.

On May 20, 2005, shirleyt from Pearl River, LA wrote:

I find that the long blooming beauty of the mimosa tree far out weighs any negatives in clean up. I have three 15 year old 25ft trees that just appeared in my garden. Two of them positioned themselves to make a perfect archway into a" room" area of my garden... I have throughly enjoyed them and marvel at there long blooming time....The other tree draped itself over a less than perfect outdoor shed adding beauty to that area of my three acre garden as well...... I have much more problems with the beautiful gigantic magnolia trees. Talk about mess.... I always say "If you knew what I knew" you would enjoy this tree in someones elses yard.....To each his own. I find that messiness goes along with the gardening and if you can't handle that part of it , you won't get much enjoyment out of... read more the gardening experience.

On May 18, 2005, jnana from South Florida, FL (Zone 10b) wrote:

This tree should not be planted in Florida. It is considered a category 1 invasive by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council.

On Nov 18, 2004, MisongLi from Palmdale, CA wrote:

I bought my first home in the high desert, Palmdale, California, about 50 miles north of Los Angeles. There are four Mimosa trees in my front yard which I was told are 14 years old. These are definitely high action/drama trees! They are so large, however, I have been contemplating having them pruned as they just about obstruct the view of my two-story home.

I moved in in February, the dried "seed pod" stage. It is ALWAYS windy here, 40-50 mph at times, but those pods hung on tight and provided a wonderful rustling sound I'm looking forward to hearing again soon. These trees are never just boring, bald branches even in winter (well, except for my neighbor's, whose has truly died).

The flowers of four Mimosas were gorgeous in the summer. We even had a ... read morehuge swarm of bees park for two days in the largest one. The trees were wonderful for shade during temperatures up to 110 degrees, but the lawn underneath did suffer. Mimosas must not be too picky about soil: Here they are obviously thriving in sandy/red clay dirt.

There are tons of pigeons where I live, who eat the seeds. When the flowers, leaves and pods do fall I must rake every day but there are long periods where all there is to do is enjoy the Mimosa's amazing "show."

On Oct 12, 2004, california from Rochester, MI wrote:

I love this tree, my parent's have one in their backyard in carmichael california, but now that I live in Rochester Hill's michigan, I would to find out if I could grow one here, maybe dave knows. California

On Sep 13, 2004, vs71099 from Osage City, KS (Zone 5b) wrote:

I have three mimosas going one is in to much shade but the other two are gorgeous..... I've never noticed "baby" mimosa's and recently created a hosta bed under my largest tree. I'm hoping some "babies" will start popping up I'd love to have more.

It's unfortunate that this beautiful tree is so invasive in some areas..... maybe my zone 5 weather keeps it at bay - Lucky me..... I get the best of both that way......

On Aug 19, 2004, umpy from Harrison, AR wrote:

This is the most beautiful tree in the world. When I was growing up, everyone wanted one.

It has great qualities, is very exotic, easy to climb when large, beautiful flowers, lovely scent, attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and lovely little old ladies adore it.

It is the BEST. I can't even believe there is this much negativity.

My neighbors keep killing my seedlings in MY yard... I have never been able to get one past 7 feet and have grown that that high only to be cut down... in MY fenced yard.

I cry every time and have warned them. They also come over and chop the bottoms of my ivy and fox grape vines on my fence. My back fence used to be covered with these lovely vines , but they don't like them so they clip them then I have... read more to look at dead vines all entagled in my chain link fence. Otherwise they are good neighbors... they just don't like them and think they are helping keep weedy plants back.

On Aug 13, 2004, KactusKathi from Goodyear, AZ (Zone 9a) wrote:

I spray my yard twice a year to stop the volunteers from growing. The spray does not allow seeds to germinate! I suggest you try it in your mimosa area.

On Aug 8, 2004, Lymabean from Gloucester, VA wrote:

I live in Virginia, where the Mimosa tree is found all over. I moved and had to clear land so I needed to plant a mimosa tree.

On Aug 4, 2004, sdtfhdghjdgyjdg from Philadelphia, PA wrote:

I just saw this tree for the 1st time tonight & looked it up on the internet...that's how I came to this site. Just wanted to say that I saw it growing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is spectacular looking and 15 feet tall.

People made comments about its thin "weak" trunk. As I was surfing the net, I found another tree: Kalkora Mimosa (Albizia kalkora) which looks very similar to the Albizia julibrissin, but it has a thick trunk & oak-like rough bark. Just a suggestion for someone who would want a stronger looking tree.

On Jul 29, 2004, shortcm from Wilmington, DE (Zone 7b) wrote:

The only hummingbird I've ever seen in my almost 50 years was while sitting on the throne on the second floor of our three story city home. We'd inherited a beautiful Mimosa tree which grew taller than the second story, in a very narrow side yard (

On Jul 26, 2004, henryr10 from Cincinnati, OH (Zone 6b) wrote:

I'm sitting here typing and out the windows the hummers are getting their last meal of the day. Our 25 foot tall Mimosa is loaded, both with blossoms and newly forming seed pods.

Nothing growing in the North is prettier than sunset backlighting these hundreds of blooms. We get a ground die-back about every 5 years so we have a multi-stemmed trunk. After each die-back the tree comes back stronger than ever.

On Jul 19, 2004, turnberry from Grass Valley, CA wrote:

I put neutral here because I have become resigned to the fearful mess my tree makes. It was planted in a patio area by people, us, who knew no better at the time. As a tiny seedling 25 years ago, it had been decapitated once by a horse and once by a child stacking wood. It has taken its revenge for these indignities by growing to massive proportions, cracking the patio in several places, and delivering tons of seasonal debris and billions of progeny. On the positive side, it and two of its children, located more auspiciously on the property, smell divine and are beloved of hummers and sphinx (I believe) moths. The shade is lovely and raking the debris to feed to the pygmy goats is healthy exercise. How's that for pragmatism.

On Jul 1, 2004, chicochi3 from Fayetteville, AR (Zone 6b) wrote:

Here in Arkansas this plant is a pest. But I give it a positive. Just keep one or two in a place where you want them, and they're probably the most beautiful tree in the yard. The flowers are beautiful and have a wonderful scent. Butterflies and hummingbirds love the flowers. If they happen to take hold in your chain link fence, though, they're really hard to get rid of. The seedlings are all over the place and left to their own device, they become trees. If they're in the lawn, mow the rascals down. If they're in your flower bed, dig them up like a weed. As beautiful as this tree is, a little sure goes a long way.

On Jun 11, 2004, WillowWasp from Jones Creek, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:

I love this tree. To me it is so elegant and whispy just really a pretty tree to have around. I especially like the fact that you can plant anything under it and have nice filtered sunlight...
The only problem I have seen with it in this area is the limbs are cut off by the Girdling Beetle. So you have to keep it sprayed for them, otherwise it has been care free... :o)
Dee

On Apr 28, 2004, purefreedoms from Brockton, MA wrote:

I live in southeastern Massachusetts where I bought my first house 10 years ago. Guess what the very first tree I planted was? Albizia julibrissin 'Rosea', of course--it is my absolute favorite tree. I have 7 now and it will be interesting to see how they fared after this year's brutally cold winter. I find these trees exotically beautiful, easy as pie to grow and even easier to propagate.

I find that the best place to showcase the splendor and grace of this beauty is to plant in an open sunny location in average soil where they can be allowed to grow outward in all directions. Then you get that fantastic umbrella shape. I wait til spring to clean up fallen debris, by then the tiny leaves have composted into soil and just the little twigs are left to rake.Plant can... read morenas, castor beans, and mallows in the same garden and you'll get a tropical getaway in your own back yard!

On Jan 3, 2004, Halfspied from Star, NC (Zone 7b) wrote:

A weedy non-native. There's one across the street from our private road. Thus we have to make regular maintenance runs to get rid of the volunteers. They're tough to pull up, and mowing doesn't discourage them much. They also sprout in our woods. Some people call them Formosas. I wish people wouldn't let them grow. There are lots of alternatives to attract butterflies.

On Dec 22, 2003, faries50 from magnolia, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

This is one of the most beautiful trees ever. It's a fast grower here in the south west. I just love it. I look at it all the time when out side. Very tropical looking. It protects my philodendrons my other favorite. Everyone should have one. Easy to start from seed. I've got seed.

On Jul 25, 2003, suncatcheracres from Old Town, FL wrote:

Despite it's invasiveness--this exotic tree grows all along the highways in Northcentral Florida--I have super fond memories of this tree from my childhood in Gulfport, Mississippi. There was a huge specimen just down the street in the side yard of a retired President of a nearby girl's "Junior College," and as a child I remember afternoon tea parties this woman held for the neighborhood girls, with tea, lemonaid and cookies attractively spread out, and all of us sitting on colorful cushions on old white lawn furniture on a small patio under this gigantic mimosa tree. It's delicate, lacy shade was very welcome in the pre-airconditioned South of the 1950's. This tree took up most of the South facing side yard of her house, delicately shading the house all summer. It must have been 40 to... read more 50 feet tall, had a large base, and had survived many wind storms and hurricanes just a block and a half from the Gulf of Mexico! I remember she had a large, attractive "cottage garden" in this side yard, so she must have been a good gardener, and she always sent us girls home with bouquets of flowers for our mothers.

June 13, 2004
The mimosas along the roadways here in Northcentral Florida have been spectacular this month--the prettiest that I have ever seen them. I live in a very rural area, and the mimosas seem to especially like to grow along fences, where they don't get mowed, and their branches arch and hang gracefully over the "no-man's land" between a fence and the highway. When they are in full bloom they are a delight for all traveler's eyes.

As far as mimosas not being "native," so what? "Native" is an arbitrary designation, for some imaginary event over 400 years ago. Plants travel, just like people do, and "ecosystems" aren't static--they evolve as conditions change. For instance, here in Northcentral Florida we are losing our dogwoods--they are retreating northward--as our warming winter climate has made our area too warm for them. The same will probably happen with our redbuds, and then more sub-tropical plants will move into our area to take their place. And if the climate becomes cooler again, these delightful small trees might come back, or something else will move in that likes the current conditions better.

I am part Cherokee Indian, and I know that the woodland tribes managed their forests and their gardens just as much as their technology allowed them to, so America wasn't "pristine wilderness" with only "native plants" before the Europeans came. All plants have a place, and as gardeners we just have to find the right places for them. Personally I find a plant that fixes nitrogen in the soil and produces spectacular flowers in the heat of summer that also attracts beautiful wildlife, AND provides quick shade for our homes and patios to be a blessing.

On Jul 8, 2003, gonedutch from Fairport, NY wrote:

My Mimosa is a door yard feature. It was planted on the south side of the house against a heated foundation wall or it would not survive our zone 5-6 winter temperatures.

To retain a diminutive size I pruned it back hard last fall. After a severe winter I was afraid that I might have killed it by pruning it too far back but in late May it bagan to show life. Today, six weeks later the new growth is 6-7 feet! And the new tree now has precisely the shape and height that I wanted.

There is still no evidence of flower buds but I am confident that they will soon arrive. The tree has always produced prolific flowering. I never felt a need for fertilizers or addional waterering.

The flower scent reminds me of exotic nutmeg which perfums the whole door... read more yard. Mimosa's foliage is photo-sensitive and 'folds' at dusk. This allows more light into the garden from night time street lights. At dawn the foliage opens up to provide cool daytime shade.

I have not seen a single seedling in ten years but look forward to finding some.

All in all this is a very satisfying specimen tree.

On Jul 2, 2003, griffeyj wrote:

The mimosa grows wild all over Alabama. It can been seen routinely on highway right-a-ways. I planted seedlings in my backyard 12 years ago. They now reach up to 30ft in the air and provide exceptionally good shade. However, recently three of my 8-10 memosas suddenly lost thier leaves just as they bloomed. They have developed black (solid)spots of rather large demensions at various locations on the main trunk bark. Have I been lucky to get 12 years out of them? I may try trimming them back (in the fall when it is dry)to see if they will revive. They do make a mess in my yard, when the blooms and beans fall.

On Jun 26, 2003, Greenknee from Chantilly, VA (Zone 6b) wrote:

All of the color cultivars of Albizia grow in this area, and reseed freely, many appearing alongside highways - easily seen when in bloom with the various shades of light pink to red. Attractive to hummingbirds. They are, however susceptible to wilt and therefore often very shortlived, though my father had a mature tree probably over 50 years old on the farm where I grew up in Prince Georges Co, Maryland (U.S.) We eagerly watched each year for the hummingbirds to return to it.

On Jun 24, 2003, daylilies wrote:

We have always admired the mimosa during our trips to the coast, but short of digging up a seedling, we have had no luck in finding a nursery in this area that stocks them.

On Jun 1, 2003, Petsitterbarb from Claremore, OK wrote:

Ahhhh...Mimosas! Just the sight of one, or the delicious fragrance, takes me back immediately to the late 40's and the 50's, when EVERYONE had at least one Mimosa in their yard! They do great here in hot/dry Oklahoma, and you see 'em growing wild sometimes. I love the fern type leaves and the little pink puffy blossoms are simply devine to the eye and to the nose. They don't live long though, and tend to split, like Bradford Pear trees do, so I have to rate them "neutral" for that problem.

On May 30, 2003, kzbgarden wrote:

The Mimosa is very susceptible to a vascular wilt disease. I've read that the cultivar 'Charlotte' is resistant, although I haven't been able to locate this cultivar yet.

On May 22, 2003, Ravensmom wrote:

My grandmother always had a Mimosa in her back yard in Louisville KY. She never had any trouble with the 40ft tree. Occasionally there would be volunteers to pull up or cut down. The farther north you are, the less trouble with volunteers there is. Fewer seeds survive the colder winters and therefore fewer sprout ;)
I can see where they could be a problem if you had hundreds of them. However I would do the extra work just to have one of these wonderful trees. In fact, I'm just now starting my own from seed. Wish me luck!

On Mar 23, 2003, lgsherk from Vandiver, AL (Zone 7a) wrote:

In Alabama the mimosa is considered an invasive alien and a pest!
Linda in Alabama

On Oct 30, 2002, momarsha wrote:

I transplanted a volunteer seedling about 12 years ago at my home in Missouri. We are zone 5 where mimosa can suffer and die back, but mine did very well on the East side of my home, nearby the driveway. I love the tree which grew quickly, bloomed in only a few years and which blooms nearly 2 months each summer. Both the hummingbirds and swallowtail butterflies flock to it and the scent is wonderful.

However, I would never recommend it nearby ones home. The seeds actually accumulate in the tracks of my sliding door. The volunteers come up in every flower bed and the cracks of the sidewalks by the hundreds, and each must be cut down repeatedly if not uprooted.

It is a gorgeous parent tree. I prune it both spring and fall to keep it in bounds, though I have... read more read they do not take to pruning. Now in maturity, there has been wind breakage. I plan to do a more severe pruning to bring it back down to size, which may destroy it. I could recommend it only on large lots away from any garden beds. The seedlings are more aggressive, even, than our maples or cottonwoods in this area.

On Aug 18, 2002, dragonlady0747 from Troisdorf,
Germany wrote:

This is the most wonderful tree in my garden. I got three little seedlings in '92 and planted them together. I seem to be the only person who grows it here in Germany. It is hardy in winter time and if it grows too big I can cut it and it still will grow nicely. People stop by attracted by its beauty and fragrance and ask for cuttings and seedlings. I tried that myself but never got a positive result. Though there are many seed pots and I put them out at different times it never worked out.

On Aug 1, 2002, Wingnut from Spicewood, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

Butterflies simply LOVE these blooms! When mine bloom, you can see butterflies all over the blooms ~ quite a sight for "flying flower" fans. It's an especially nice sight when there's a light wind blowing and the canopy moves like a pink and green sea with the butterflies riding the waves.

I think the "weed tree" status of this tree is very undeserved. I don't find my two 30+ year old trees to be weak-wooded. The hackberries and pecans drop MANY more limbs than the mimosas during our violent thunderstorms. Same for the supposed messiness ~ Mom parks her car under it and hasn't complained once. Of course this is dry Texas ~ by the time the blooms fall to the cars, they are light little puffballs that blow right off instead of being wet and sticking. The dryness here ma... read morey also account for the lack of seedlings. I've never seen any anywhere on this hundred acres except one that got started down by the creek in full shade. It's thriving despite the lack of sun and wet conditions.

I love this tree!!

On Sep 3, 2001, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:

Often called "Mimosa", but don't mistake it for Acacia, which shares the same common name and family, but has white or yellow flowers.

Albizia julibrissin is, according to the books, a fast-growing, weak-wooded tree. The pink, feathery flowers appear in mid-summer, atop finely divided foliage that resembles the houseplant "Sensitive Plant" (Mimosa pudica, which is-- not surprisingly--a member of the same family.) Regular water will promote fast growth; if drought conditions are present, the tree may grow slowly and look yellowish.

The seed pods which form after blooming are messy; do not plant this tree near sidewalks or driveways (that's the voice of personal experience talking.)

On the positive side, having a tree that blooms... read more in summer is a nice, tropical-feeling change of pace for those of us in non-tropical zones. Several years ago, we rented a house with several Mimosa trees, which fascinated a young neighbor boy - he called them our "feather trees".