Think twice before bringing home one of these pretty, easy-to-grow trees for your yard.
The mimosa tree is one of those plants you either love or hate.
I hate it now, but I used to love it.
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On one roadside near my home is a row of them, each a different color.
The various colors are due to genetic variation, with pink being dominant.
Where I live in Alabama, the trees usually bloom in June and continue for several weeks into July.
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Before planting, consider that they are messy trees that spread quickly and are invasive.
Mimosa seedpods are toxic to dogs and livestock.Before planting, there are other options you may want to consider.
That’s why you see it growing along just about every highway and country road in the South.
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The pink “powder puffs” of mimosa flowers appear in early June throughout the South.
Fernlike leaves give the tree a lacy, graceful appearance.
Light
Mimosas prefer full sun but can tolerate some shade, especially in drier areas.
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They do not thrive in full shade.
Adequate watering as it grows gives the tree a deep green color and lush appearance.
They are susceptible to frost damage during winter.
Younger plants cannot survive harsh winter temperatures.
Types Of Mimosa Trees
Some cultivars of mimosa are less invasive.
Any mimosas that flower are going to produce seeds and lots of them.
Get rid of dead or diseased wood, and trim to keep the size and shape you want.
Propagating Mimosa Tree
Because the mimosa is an invasive tree, planting it should be limited.
If you do decide to plant one, the best time to propagate is in late spring.
How To Grow Mimosa Tree From Seed
The mimosa tree can easily be grown from seed.
Harvest seeds from the tree in the fall and store them in a cool, dry place until spring.
Plant them in a sunny area that protects them from the wind.
Keep young trees protected from frost.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
A common problem with these trees is mimosa webworms.
Silken webs wrap clusters of leaves together, and the caterpillars inside those webs eat the leaves.
The solution: If possible, prune out and destroy webbing and damaged leaves.
Rake and destroy leaf debris, and replace mulch under the tree each fall.
Thoroughly spray the tree trunk with horticultural oil in early March to suffocate pupating larvae.
Another problem you may encounter with a mimosa is wilting.
Leaves yellow and droop in early to mid-summer.
Tree branches will die over several months.
Unfortunately, there is no control for the soilborne disease that enters through the tree roots.
This disease that was discovered in the 1930s has now spread throughout the South.
Common Problems With Mimosa
There are two reasons why I think you should never buy mimosa trees.
The seedpods persist all winter, even after the tree has dropped its leaves.
Few trees look as ugly or more forlorn.
Look for a tree that’s durable in cold or harsh weather, drought-resistant, and easy to maintain.
Your yard can still have beautiful blooms all summer long.
Consider planting one of these options.
In fact, I have a chaste tree that has been in my yard for over 20 years.
It’s a great option for smaller yards too, as it only grows 10 to 15 feet tall.
This tree is very durableit is drought-resistant and thrives in full sun, and can bloom in harsh conditions.
The tree comes in pink, purple, red, and white variations.
Thesepretty-in-pinktrees are also fairly easy to maintain and grow quickly when given full sun and well-drained soil.
Fluffy bright mimosa flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies to their nectar.
So if you do have a mimosa in your yard, youre likely to at least enjoy its visitors.
Because these trees are invasive, they are a threat to native species.
They are fast spreaders that prevent native plants from getting enough sun and nutrients.
Mimosa trees arenitrogen fixers.
Montgomery Botanical Gardens.All about mimosas.
NC State Extension.Albizia julibrissin.
Alabama A&M & Auburn Universities Extension.The mimosa tree: Beautiful but invasive.
The New Southern Living Garden Book: The Ultimate Guide to Gardening.
University of Missouri Extension.The mimosa webworm in Missouri.
Missouri Botanical Garden.Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) kurstaki and Isrealensis strains.
