TreeRM

Mimosa

Albizia julibrissin 路 Fabaceae 路 also Silk tree, Persian silk tree, Silky acacia

A flat-topped, umbrella-shaped small tree (20-40 feet) with ferny leaves and fluffy pink powder-puff flowers in early summer that hummingbirds visit. It grows fast, lives only about 30 years, drops flowers, leaves and bean pods constantly, breaks in storms, and seeds itself along roadsides, creek banks and fence lines where it shades out native plants. Mimosa wilt usually kills it young.

Broadleaf, drops leavesFast growingSun or part shadeLow water
Mimosa
Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where it stands

Native

  • 馃嚠馃嚪 Iran 路 Native from Iran east to Japan

Invasive

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 United States 路 Texas Invasives reports it present in 27 states from California to West Virginiasource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 NC, United States 路 Listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council (per NC State Extension Plant Toolbox)source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 TX, United States 路 Listed in the Texas Invasives (texasinvasives.org) plant database. Grows along roadsides, vacant lots and riparian areas in Texas, seldom above 3,000 feet. Not on the TDA noxious list.source

Care

Not recommended. If planted, expect heavy litter, brittle wood and a lethal, untreatable fusarium wilt; seeds are toxic to dogs and livestock. Remove by cutting and treating the stump, since it resprouts vigorously, and pull seedlings for several years. Desert willow gives a similar airy look with pink summer flowers and is native.

Benefits

FlowersPollinatorsDrought tolerantFast canopy

Good for

Watch out for

Invasive elsewhereWeak woodHeavy litterToxic partsPest proneShort lived