Albizia julibrissin (Silk Tree or Mimosa Tree) is in the
Fabaceae family, and is native to an area spanning Iran, China, and Japan. It
has naturalized in the eastern United States.
The tree is deciduous, and key diagnostics include alternate, bi-pinnately compound leaves, 6-12” by 4-5”, with 8-26 pinnae, each with 30-40 leaflets, which fold close at night. Flowers are showy, fluffy, and pink to reddish, with many-stamens, occurring at branch ends in clustered heads, and attract birds. Bark is smooth, grayish brown, and covered with tiny glandular ridges, which become shallowly fissured with age. The branches have a distinct “zig-zag” pattern. Fruit is a flat, 6” by 1” seed pod with pointed ends, maturing to golden tan. The papery legumes persist all winter.
This tree does well in summer heat, and is drought tolerant once established (but does best with occasional deep watering).
The tree is deciduous, and key diagnostics include alternate, bi-pinnately compound leaves, 6-12” by 4-5”, with 8-26 pinnae, each with 30-40 leaflets, which fold close at night. Flowers are showy, fluffy, and pink to reddish, with many-stamens, occurring at branch ends in clustered heads, and attract birds. Bark is smooth, grayish brown, and covered with tiny glandular ridges, which become shallowly fissured with age. The branches have a distinct “zig-zag” pattern. Fruit is a flat, 6” by 1” seed pod with pointed ends, maturing to golden tan. The papery legumes persist all winter.
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| Albizia julibrissin - leaves and form. |
This tree does well in summer heat, and is drought tolerant once established (but does best with occasional deep watering).
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1 comment:
Fantastic tree and fantastic photos. I've not been able to find a photograph of the same tree in all seasons. Thanks for sharing this.
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