Albizia julibrissin, the mimosa tree, is a memory maker in the right location.
It’s not for all locations and I’ll touch on that in a bit. But, if you want to party this summer like it’s 1999, this tree could hold memories of your debauchery and summertime fun outdoors.
While you can keep it rated PG – on July 4th this tree will be ready serve you with the light heartedness that only an airy and open tree can.
The mimosa tree has a spreading habit, and though it looses it’s leaves in winter, when they’re back on again, they’ll wave to you with love like ferns in the wind.
Albizia julibrissin – mimosa tree in flower
The flowers are also going to be blooming away over the summer. This tree blooms for a long time in California, I’ve seen them blooming from May through September!
Also, one of the nice things about this tree is that it’s tolerant of seacoast conditions. Do you know what those are? Wind and salt air. Mimosa tree is also very drought and heat tolerant. These photos are taken at a winery in Napa… This winery is well known not only for their delicious wines, but for their lavender fields.
Here is the scoop on this Tree:
Botanical Name: Albizia julibrissin
Common Names: Silk Tree, Mimosa
Family: Fabaceae
Zones: 6 – 9
Origin: Native to temperate regions of Asia
Size: 25′ tall and 40′ wide in most home gardens. Wider than tall.
General Information: This mimosa tree has a round head with a spreading and airy and open form; trunk and branching are lovely. Locate it in a full sun/part shade spot and it appreciates a moderate amount of water; thought this tree is drought tolerant once established.
Flowers: Pink with a mass of stamens that are a pink to cream color. For the flower layout, this tree is a good one to look down on. The flower stalks grow above the leaves and the branches. Hummingbirds and butterflies love them!
Fruit: Looks like a giant pea: 6″ to 10″ and after flowering is through, you will find that a lot of these pods remain on the tree. These pods also stay on the tree when the leaves are gone. The question to ask yourself is, “how do you view these brown pods?” Some say messy, others say ornamental. Whatever you think, these pods will definitely produce some mess factor, do make sure to locate this tree in the right location and/or spend time grooming to keep area beneath tidy.
Flowering Abizia julibrissin: the shade tree for enjoying wine
Drawbacks… Cause Nothing’s Perfect!
One drawback mentioned, is that the litter messiness of the dried seed caps can drive a neat freak nuts! I wouldn’t recommend this tree on a patio where neatness is important. If you have other locations, or aren’t bothered by the mess then there’s nothing to worry about. Also, this isn’t as long lived as compared to the average garden tree. And final drawback, this tree is considered invasive in some areas of the country. To find out if it is where you live, have a look here at the Invasive Plant Atlas of the US.
Excellent Uses for the Mimosa Tree
- Accent
- Specimen
- Patio tree
- Garden tree
- Shade tree
- Lawn Tree
Looking down on this flowering tree is amazing!
Conclusion:
The simple combination of Mediterranean plants at this winery, and the absolutely gorgeous location and design choices make me want to head back, and sit beneath my favorite tree there.
Happy Gardening!
ps: If you are looking for this tree online, I’ve included my link. You can find small, starter Mimosa trees