Albizia julibrissin
- Mimosa trees rapidly grow to about 25-30 ft
- Fragrant, hot pink blooms grow in clusters
- Easy to grow tree, even tolerates drought conditions
- Also known as the “Silk Tree”
The mimosa tree, sometimes called the Persian silk tree, is a legume and can help enrich the soil where it grows. The Persian name means “night sleeper,” and in Japan it is known as the sleeping tree. That is because the bi-pinnate leaves fold up at night and during rainstorms.
Bi-pinnate simply means that instead of one undivided leaf, the leaves are separated like those of a fern or a palm frond. The flowers are anywhere from pale to deep pink and form in clusters that look like fine silk threads. They form long pods 5-7 inches long that enclose the seeds.
The technical name, Albizia julibrissin, is native to eastern and southwestern Asia, but does well in the Hill Country climate It is a fast growing ornamental tree that can reach up to 30 feet or slightly more in height. Hummingbirds, butterflies, deer, birds and bees, all love mimosa trees.
The seedpods are poisonous at all times and the seeds within even more so. Do not allow livestock, pets, or especially children to put the seedpods or seeds in their mouths. They can cause seizures and even death.