Having a mimosa tree in your yard in the south is fairly common, but there are problems. That it is easy to grow and make beautiful shade fast is a plus. However, you can't overlook that the seed pod litter can be annoying.
They like full sun to part shade and will grow in real shady places. It is considered an understory or medium high tree. It can grow as wide as 20 feet but trimming keeps it in bounds. You can't beat the pretty pink flowers.
I have found that I cannot do root cuttings from this tree, but the seeds start easily and grow fast. If you feed and water regularly, you will have a blooming tree the second year. It will only be 3 to 5 feet but will set a few blooms, even in a pot. Full sun is best.
The leaves fall in autumn. This is the ideal time to prune if you wish to shape. When you trim keep in mind the mimosa has a flat-ish top and fans out on the sides, so keep the design for a good tree. This applies if you have a single trunk.
During dry times you will need to water. In the south, the older trees develop a problem sometimes in real dry weather and don't recover. Watering usually deters this.
In south Georgia, it is considered a pest by some, and a treasure by others, so you can try it. If you don't like it, then you pull it. It can be made into a multi-stemmed plant by radical trimming, and will last longer than a single trunk plant because new ones come up around the trunk. It doesn't send suckers off from the tree.
By gbk from South Georgia
This page contains the following solutions.
To choose the right tree, you have to be careful to use its proper name as mimosa is also the common name of another beautiful tree. A true mimosa does not survive temperatures as low as 23 degrees F.
Mimosa trees are beautiful when they're blooming. I was thrilled when we moved here to find a huge one in our side yard.
Please be careful where you plant a mimosa tree. They grow really fast, and they attract ants like crazy! Either of these can make the "pretty tree" quite a pest for you, and/or your neighbors.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I purchased 7 ft root container chocolate mimosa tee through the mail and planted it last November in Texas. There are no new signs of growth, but the trunk appears to be free when scratched with a coin.
Is it dead? If not when will I see growth?
The Chocolate Mimosa Tree is a little different from the original mimosas but the general statement is the tree should be about 10 feet tall before it blooms.
Take a "nip" from the tree and see if it is green underneath, this will tell you if it is still alive. You should see a little growth the end of April, little shoots will start forming along the tree trunk. By the look of you photo, it would seem that it is just dormant right now.
Why are there no pods on my tree this year?
In your question you state "this year" so do you mean it has bloomed in prior years or has your tree never bloomed?
Do you know how old your Mimosa tree may be?
A lot of different things will determine when your tree will produce it's first pods/blooms but with proper care should continue to bloom each year after that happens.
Mimosa trees usually grow best in USDA zone 6 - 10. You do not say where you live but if you would like to know your USDA zone you can check at this site.
planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
Does this tree need to be banded somehow so that it grows up more so than wide? Mine was planted last December in northern Arizona and is growing like a Jurassic Park type plant. I am just a little concerned about the branches growing in width rather than height. Thanks for your help.
By Nancy
My mimosa looks like yours. It was apparently a full size tree but was cut down before we moved in here. I have gradually gathered and tied it up because it is in the very small back garden of our apartment. It looks better now, more like a tree and there's room to get on to our patio! I don't know if it will ever bloom. It has been completely cut back to ground level at least twice, to my certain knowledge.
In an area where a mimosa tree was cut down, new sprouts are growing from the old root systems.
Can I cut a short section from the root with a 24 inch sprout attached and replant it in another spot, in the fall, successfully?
By Jim
Yes, you can! Many trees can be done like this.
Make sure you use rooting hormone.
Can I plant a new tiny mimosa near a 15yr old mimosa that is getting sparse, but is still beautiful? I thought they would look nice near each other.
Just allow enough room for growth-they require full sun, so you need at least 15 feet or more between them. It may seem like a lot of room now, but in 10 years when its grown that space will be filled in.
I have tiny mamosa tree up against my house. I want to transplant it to another location. How do I go about doing that?
Small mimosa tree I need to transplant my question is when and how in New Jersey state.
When can I harvest my chocolate mimosa pods? I figured that if you can shake the pod and hear the seeds rattle it's OK to pick. When opened the pods have seeds of various colors and sizes due to some of them not drying out completely yet. They range from small and almost black and then from brown to green as they get larger. Will these seed's mature while being stored or should I wait on harvesting them until all the seed's are small and black? Thank you.
Editor's Note The chocolate in the name of the mimosa plant is describing the color. These seeds are toxic and should not be consumed under any circumstances.
ignore this comment! Chocolate Mimosa seeds are extremely poisonous and could kill you! This commenter appears to think this post was about a coco tree with Chocolate pods, and did not check the comment carefully. This comment should absolutely be removed in case a reader thinks it's okay to eat pod seeds from a Mimosa tree.
Editor's Note: We have removed that content and added a note to the original question.
I have a sprouting tree from an already dead mimosa coming up from the roots. I've been told it died because the mimosa must be cross-polinated. Should I plant another tree nearby so this one will thrive? If so, how near can I plant it to the tree that is sprouting? If it does not require another tree nearby, please tell me.
Mimosas do not need to be cross pollinated. I had a Mimosa die off this year because of all the rain. They need good drainage.
I just recently was given seed pods from a mimosa tree from Texas. I live in New Jersey and I am not sure if it will survive the winters here.
I don't know which variety of mimosa these seeds are from. I do see quite a few mimosa trees around. Can you give me some advice please?homeguides.sfgate.com/
This is the variety I have in OH and our trees haven't died out from winter seasons. The lime green seed pods that resemble little pea pods are on the trees now. I've always let the seeds germinate on their own and transplant from new starts. Since your state has much colder winter temps, I'd plant the seeds/starter plant on the south side and sheltered from the worse weather if possible. Just not too close to the house or other buildings. These trees sure draw the hummingbirds in blooming season. Good luck!
I have started many mimosa plants from seeds, but after a month or so they tend to get covered in mold and die. Is this due to too much watering? I have them indoors, near a window.
By LLB
Too much water attracts mold(root rot) just like any other plant/tree .. water only when 2" of soil is dry. Keep in full South/West sun. Good luck
Do you have to feed a mimosa tree?
By Meria P. from Worthington, IN
What do you feed a mimosa in northern California redding?
A friend dug up a couple of seedlings for me and I'm wondering when would be the best time to plant them? Should I wait till the fall or will it be okay to plant them now?
By Luciana S.
In my experience I always place the seedlings in a pot to "test" their longlivity. Once they start growing and are strong enough I plant them in a bucket that I previously drilled holes to allow better drainage. I will keep the tree/s in this over the winter months and transplant after the last frost. I would like to add that I do keep my seedlings in my basement by a south/west window. This allows for a cooler environment yet it is controlled by heat/air. I water less since I need it to slow down in growth. Nothing like attempting to remove a full blow flowering tree from a underground exstablishment..
Is there anything we can do for our tree? Its bark is splitting. Will this kill the tree? Thank you.
By Marian A
I would look under the bark at the wood. I came across this while researching Mimosa trees:
Watch for Wilt Disease
Verticillium wilt is a common mimosa tree disease that causes symptoms such as faded, wilted foliage, branch dieback and, occasionally, death of the entire tree. Removing bark on infected branches may showcase wet-looking dark spots. Help prevent the disease by irrigating your tree during long dry periods, as stressed trees are more likely to develop problems. Prune out dead branches, disinfecting your pruning equipment with a mixture of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water to avoiding spreading the disease. Do not plant mimosa tree in areas where verticillium wilt has been a problem in the past.
Read more : www.ehow.com/
Is it easy or difficult to plant a mimosa tree from seeds? I collected some seed pods just outside of my city (in VA) and want to plant them, but I would like some tips. Also, how do I find out if my city or area of the country prohibits or discourages propagation of mimosa trees?
Hardiness Zone: 7a
By Cheryl Crockett from Washington DC
PLEASE check with your local agriculture department before you start planting mimosa seeds! While these trees may be pretty from far away, they are a real PAIN in the clean-up department to have in your yard! The flowers are messy, the leaves are messy, the trunks split easily, ants LOVE to farm the aphids that are attracted to the flower pollen and nectar...
What do they look like when starting to grow?
By Ann from NSW, Australia
I bought and planted a mimosa tree from a mail order nursery last month. It still does not show any sprouting or growth. Should I be concerned? The plant/stick with roots is 6 feet tall and planted in full sun.
By ILYNA P.
I live in west/central PA. I planted a mimosa tree 5 years ago. It's growing great, but no blooms yet. Others in my area have mimosa trees that bloom beautifully in July. Any suggestions?
By Deb
I would like information on growing silk trees or Mimosa trees in Oklahoma. How tall, what color? Do they get large?
By Joe D.
Mimosa trees originated in the tropics, but grow well up through many moderate climates as well. Growing mimosa trees in New Hampshire may be difficult with the long winters, but it can be done if proper care is taken.
