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Albizia julibrissin

Previously known as:

  • Acacia julibrissin
  • Mimosa julibrissin
Phonetic Spelling
al-BIZZ-ee-ah joo-lee-BRIS-sin
This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
Description

Mimosa is a woody, deciduous, highly flammable tree or shrub in the legume family (Fabaceae). It is native to southern Asia, from Iran to Japan. It was introduced in the United States in 1745 and cultivated as an ornamental tree for its fragrant and showy pink flowers that bloom in summer. However, it escaped cultivation and is now invasive in North Carolina and other parts of the southeastern United States. The specific epithet, julibrissin, is an Anglicized version of Persian words meaning "silk flower."

Mimosa is aggressive, high-maintenance and short-lived. Its average life span is 30 years. It grows 20 to 40 feet tall and 20 to 50 feet wide, is multi-stemmed and has a broad crown. The limbs of the tree are weak and may be damaged by strong winds, snow or ice. It reproduces by seed (five to 16 per flower) or root cuttings. The seeds are easily dispersed by the wind, water or animals and they contain a neurotoxin that when ingested can be toxic to livestock and dogs. It can tolerate a variety of light, soil and moisture conditions, which contributes to its weedy and competitive nature. When planted near homes, it requires significant clean-up from shedding of its leaves, blooms and seed pods. It will resprout when cut back or damaged.

The leaves are fern-like in appearance and are very sensitive; the leaflets will close when touched and at nighttime. 

Mimosa is typically found along roadsides, grasslands, vacant lots, clearings or flood plain areas. It can grow in dense stands, which reduce sunlight and nutrients that native plant species growing nearby may require. It is not recommended for landscapes. However, if you must grow this species, please consider the cultivars ‘Merlot Majik’ or ‘Summer Chocolate’ as they are sterile and do not reseed as rampantly.   

Diseases, Insects and Other Plant Problems: It is susceptible to mimosa webworms, mites, shot hole borer, Armillaria fungus, root rot and cottony cushion scale. Fusarium wilt is a common and lethal disease of mimosa. The tree is listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council. 

 

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Boubri'
  • 'Flame'
  • 'Ishii Weeping'
  • 'Merlot Majik'
  • 'Rosea'
    Hardy and compact.
  • 'Summer Chocolate'
    deep burgundy mature foliage and brighter pink and white flowers
'Boubri', 'Flame', 'Ishii Weeping', 'Merlot Majik', 'Rosea', 'Summer Chocolate'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#deciduous#invasive#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#high maintenance#fast growing#messy#aggressive#seed pods#weak wood#short lifespan#poor soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#problem for dogs#bee friendly#landscape plant sleuths course#weedy#HS303
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Boubri'
  • 'Flame'
  • 'Ishii Weeping'
  • 'Merlot Majik'
  • 'Rosea'
    Hardy and compact.
  • 'Summer Chocolate'
    deep burgundy mature foliage and brighter pink and white flowers
'Boubri', 'Flame', 'Ishii Weeping', 'Merlot Majik', 'Rosea', 'Summer Chocolate'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#deciduous#invasive#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#high maintenance#fast growing#messy#aggressive#seed pods#weak wood#short lifespan#poor soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#problem for dogs#bee friendly#landscape plant sleuths course#weedy#HS303
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Albizia
    Species:
    julibrissin
    Family:
    Fabaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The Chinese have used the bark and flowers of the Mimosa tree for centuries to relieve anxiety, stress and depression.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Iran, India, China, and Japan
    Distribution:
    Argentina, Cyprus, East Aegean Island, India, Iraq, Peru, Turkey, Ukraine, temperate zones in the western and southeastern United States.
    Fire Risk Rating:
    high flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts hummingbirds, bees, songbirds, and butterflies.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Dimensions:
    Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Tree
    Weed
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Multi-stemmed
    Open
    Spreading
    Vase
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Legume
    Fruit Length:
    > 3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    The fruits are brown flat elongated pods measuring 4 to 8 inches and about 1 inch wide. Each pod contains about 5 to 10 light brown oval-shaped seeds measuring 0.5 inches in diameter. The fruits first appear in June and mature by August to November. The seeds are typically dispersed from September to November. Pods may remain on the tree through the winter months. The fruit does not attract wildlife.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Flower Petals:
    more than 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The Silk Tree flowers bloom from May to July. They are fragrant, which makes them attractive to bees. The flower is pink and has pom-pom like clusters of 15 to 25 small silk threads. The flower measures about 1.5 inches long. The mimosa bloom is monoecious (has both male and female parts) and looks like a pink fluffy powder puff. Each flower cluster grows at the base of the current year's twigs.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Soft
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are medium green in color and appear on a long slender stem that measures 10 to 20 inches long. Each stem is lined with pinnae which appears opposite of each other. There may be 4 to 6 pairs of pinnae, but as the tree grows this can increase to 20 to 30 pairs. The individual pinnae vary from 2-4 inches long. Each pinna is lined with 10-20 leaflets and each leaflet is 3/8 inches long. The leaves are fern-like and give the tree the appearance of being light and feathery. When it rains and during the night the leaves close downward. In the fall the leaves do not change color, and they typically fall to the ground after the first frost.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    The bark is light brown to gray and smooth. The wood is weak and brittle. The bark of young stems are bright green turning light brown and covered with lenticels as they age.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Buds:
    Scaly
    Stem Bud Scales:
    Enclosed in 2 scales
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Lenticels:
    Conspicuous
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The young stems are lime green in color and later change to light brown. They are covered with lenticels. The wood is weak and brittle.
  • Landscape:
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Heat
    Poor Soil
    Salt
    Wind
    Problems:
    Invasive Species
    Messy
    Problem for Dogs
    Short-lived
    Weak Wood
    Weedy