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Albizia kalkora is often confused with:
Albizia julibrissin Albizia julibrissin
Native alternative(s) for Albizia kalkora:
Cercis canadensis tree form with pink blooms
Cornus florida Cornus florida
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Acer saccharinum From
Lagerstroemia indica Full shrub in bloom
Staphylea trifolia Staphylea trifolia

Albizia kalkora

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Albizia coreana
  • Albizia esquirolii
  • Albizia henryi
  • Albizia longepedunculata
  • Mimosa kalkora
Phonetic Spelling
al-BIZ-ee-a Kal Kora
Description

The Kalkora Mimosa is a member of the Fabaceae (legume) family. It is a native of Northeastern India, portions of China, Bangladesh, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Kalkora Mimosa is limited in cultivation in the United States. There is a naturalized population in Durham, North Carolina. This deciduous tree or shrub has crowns that form shade and have white to yellowish powder-puff blooms that occur in May and June. The fruits are flattened legumes and contain 4-12 seeds.  It can form into medium to large trees and may be found in thickets or thinly planted forests at sea level to 6500 feet.  The tree is similar to the Silk Tree or Mimosa, but the Kalkora Mimosa is larger and has rougher bark. The leaves of the Kalkora Mimosa are coarser, have fewer pairs of branchlets, and are less appealing than the Silk Tree. The Silk Tree has an abundance of pink powder-puff flowers, while the Kalkora Mimosa blooms are less in quantity and appear initially white in color then turn yellow.  The blooms need hot and humid summers to flourish. The Silk Tree is listed as an invasive species in North Carolina due to its self-sowing and aggressive nature. There have been concerns raised about the Kalkora Mimosa due to its self-sowing of seeds. In the naturalized population of Kalkora Mimosa in Durham, North Carolina, hybrids with the Silk Tree have been found. It is important to remember that there many other natives, noninvasive trees that would make excellent alternatives.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#yellow flowers#flowering tree#fast growing#seed pods
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#yellow flowers#flowering tree#fast growing#seed pods
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Albizia
    Species:
    kalkora
    Family:
    Fabaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Northeastern India to Japan
    Distribution:
    Assam, Bangladesh, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, Japan, Korea, Vietnam
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Shade
    Dimensions:
    Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Spreading
    Vase
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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 pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    more than 60 feet
    NC Region:
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Legume
    Fruit Length:
    > 3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    The fruits are narrowly oblong dark brown pods that measure 3 inches to 6 inches in length and 0.6-1.4 inches wide. Each pod contains 4-12 seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    There are 2 to 7 powder-puff flower heads arranged in clusters. They appear axillary or at the terminal ends of branches. The flowers have 25-30 silk threads per head and appear white in color and then change to yellow. They measure 0.8 inches to 1 inch long. The flowers bloom in May through June after the leaves have fully emerged.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Obovate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves are bipinnate, yellow-green in color, and appear on long stems. Each stem is lined with pinnae which appears opposite of each other. There may be 3 to 6 pairs, and each measures 4-8 inches long. The leaflets are 7-15 pairs, appear opposite to each other, and are oblong to obovate in shape. The leaflet measures 0.5 inches to 1.5 inches long and 0.2 inches to 0.5 inches wide. The upper and undersides of the leaflets are pubescent. The leaves close in the evening and reopen at sunrise. The foliage is much coarser and less attractive than the Silk Tree.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Light Brown
    Bark Description:
    The bark is rough and grayish-brown.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    The branchlets are brown and are lightly covered with white hair when young.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Shade Tree
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heat
    Humidity
    Problems:
    Messy