FABACEAE - - Legume Family

* Albizia julibrissin Durazzini — Mimosa or Silktree

*This tree is not native to the United States

Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) is a small, attractive tree, native to subtropical and temperate Asia, but has been in cultivation in other countries for over 100 years. The wide-spreading crown, graceful leaves, and showy flower clusters make this a popular flowering tree, especially in the southeastern U.S. The National Champion has a circumference of 165 inches, a height of 59 feet and a crown spread of 103 feet. This tree could also be called "sensitive tree" because it's leaves will close (fold) when touched or, naturally, in the evening, a characteristic shared with the Sensitive Briar (Mimosa microphylla). Unfortunately, this tree has become a serious weed.

Separating Characteristics

The powder puff appearance of the pink flowers in crowded heads and the bipinnate leaves with many tiny leaflets (10-25 pinnae, each with 40-60 leaflets) are distinctive, as are the flat, light-colored legumes 4-6 in. long and the stout twigs with large lenticels and 3-lobed leaf scars.

Habitat

Disturbed areas, suburban woodlots, escaped and persistent in forests and woodlands; native of tropical Asia. Becoming a serious weed; "literally almost everywhere in the 'Dixie' south."

Habitat information from:
Weakley, Alan S., Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States, Working Draft of 21 May 2015.

Range

MA and NY and west to MO and all states south to FL and LA, hence westward to TX, OK, NM, AZ, UT and CA.

The range of Albizia julibrissin (Mimosa)

Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].

The Georgia range of Albizia julibrissin (Mimosa)

Zomlefer, W.B., J.R. Carter, & D.E. Giannasi. 2014 (and ongoing). The Atlas of Georgia Plants. University of Georgia Herbarium (Athens, Georgia) and Valdosta State University Herbarium (Valdosta, Georgia). Available at: http://www.georgiaherbaria.org/.