| I purchased the new varity Chocolate Brown Mimosa tree that you guys grow. I want to know if the vercilum wilt problem has been improved with this new cultavar? I have read that it is an invasive plant and gets the web-worm dieback on the limbs of the tree. Has this tree less invasive/ Let me know, John Willis |
| Thank you for asking. The mimosa cultivar "Summer Chocolate" is not included in the current online Monrovia plant catalog. This cultivar was recently introduced by Hines Nursery. Here is a typical report: (you may need to cut and paste the complete url into your browser ot make it work correctly) http://www.garden.org/regional... The selection is especially notable for its deep and lasting foliage coloring as indicated by the variety name. Mimosa or Albizia julibrissin is subject to a fairly wide variety of potential pests and mimosa wilt or fusarium wilt is also a possibility although it is more common in the southern part of the country. (Even if a specific variety is considered resistant to a disease, that does not mean it is immune.) http://www.forestpests.org/sou... It does seed about, although seeding seems to be less of a problem in northern climates. Extreme cold during the winter can cause dieback or in some cases can kill the tree outright. In your winter hardiness zone of 5A -- the coldest part of zone 5 and possibly as cold as zone 4 depending on your microclimate -- I would be concerned about losing this tree during the winter. Mimosa trees are generally considered hardy in zones 6 through 9 and your climate is considerably colder than that range. If you plant it, try to locate it where it will have protection from winter wind and in a sheltered microclimate. Your local county extension should be able to tell you if invasiveness is a problem in your local area, and whether or not the disease issues are of particular concern in your local area. I hope this helps. |
