Small ornamental tree with feathery foliage and pink powder-puff flowers across the canopy in midsummer. Fast growing but short lived.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 6–10 | −23.3 °C to 4.4 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H6 | −20 °C to −15 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 6–9 | −18 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 2–6 | −10 °C to 15 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
About Albizia (Silk tree, Mimosa)
The silk tree carries finely divided, feathery leaves that fold together at night and in rain, a movement called nyctinasty driven by changes in water pressure at the leaf bases rather than by growth. Its flowers, like those of bottlebrushes and mimosas, are made of long stamens rather than showy petals. It is a legume, and fixes nitrogen through root nodules. Fast growth, prolific seeding and tolerance of poor soil have made it a serious environmental weed in parts of the United States and elsewhere well outside its Asian range.
Growing notes
- Listed as invasive in much of the southeastern US — check local regulations
- Susceptible to mimosa wilt (Fusarium) which limits lifespan in humid climates
- Drought tolerant once established
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Albizia (Silk tree, Mimosa) against your zones