Albizia julibrissin
Common Name(s):
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'
- 'Boubri', 'Flame', 'Ishii Weeping', 'Merlot Majik', 'Rosea', 'Summer Chocolate'
- Tags:






































- 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'
- 'Boubri', 'Flame', 'Ishii Weeping', 'Merlot Majik', 'Rosea', 'Summer Chocolate'
- Tags:
-
-
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