Scientific Name:
Albizia julibrissin
Pronunciation:
al-BIZZ-ee-uh joo-lih-BRISS-in
Common Name:
silk tree, mimosa
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Leaves bi-pinnately compound, fern-like, pinnules 8-11 mm long x 3-5mm wide, wing-like; florets in terminal clusters, stamens numerous, 2-3cm long, filaments silky, pink, arising from a green-white tube enclosing ovary, Aug-Sept; legumes 8-16cm long x 2-3cm wide, flattened with 3-12 seed outlines. Winter ID: persistent fruit; twigs zigzag, numerous off-white lenticels, buds tiny, rounded, about 1mm wide, with 3-4 scales.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
5 - 7m
Mature Spread:
4 - 5m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Central / west Asia, S.E. Asia / Japan / China, South Asia / India
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 6: (-23 to -18 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Alkaline, Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Attract butterflies, Medicinal plant, Shade tree, Specimen plant, Summer interest
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Compound
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Compound Leaf:
Even-pinnate, Bipinnate
Shapes:
Oblanceolate
Apices:
Obtuse
Bases:
Obtuse
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
The slowest tree to leaf out in the spring (do not assume it's dead!)
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers clustered
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Funnelform
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Pink (petals green, inconspicuous)
Flower Time at Peak:
Aug, Sep
Fruit Type:
Legume
Fruit Colour:
Green, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Persistent
Bark Morphology:
Smooth, Lightly fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey
Leaf Bud Type:
Rounded or globular
Leaf Scar Shape:
Three-lobed
Organ Modifications:
Root nodules (N-fixing)
Propagation:
Seed
Maintenance:
High
Pest Susceptibility:
Wilt (Deer resistant, Drought tolerant)
