Plants→Albizia→Mimosa Tree (Albizia julibrissin)

This tree tends to be an invasive species in the Eastern half of the United States, but not in the Pacific Coast states, where it is used widely with no invasive tendencies.
I find the leaves very interesting. When it rains the leaves slowly close and they always close at night. You can also run your hand across the leaves and they will start closing.
In mid-summer my tree covers itself in beautiful pink flower puffs, which the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love.
Once established, it is somewhat drought tolerant.

It can be a problem for people with pollen allergies.

Introduced to the United States in 1745 from China as an ornamental tree.

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I first saw this tree planted somewhat commonly in far southern Illinois in the 1970's. It is occasionally planted in southeast Pennsylvania and has escaped cultivation to be seen here and there in the wild along forest edges and in some waste places. It is native from Iran to central China. it is a fast growing tree, over 2 feet/year. It has a tropical appearance; sort of Acacia-like with a vase-shaped habit, often with a few trunks, and a flat topped crown. It does not develop fall color. It often has problems with Fusarium Wilt Disease and Mimosa Webworm; plus some canker & leaf spot & rust disease & a virus that causes chlorotic leaf stippling is possible. There may be a few cultivars out there resistant to the wilt disease and nematodes. It is not a good quality tree with being weak-wooded and messy. I have not seen any conventional nurseries selling it in southeast Pennsylvania, but there are cheap mail order nurseries that do sell it.

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Mimosa trees are common in the South, especially around old home sites. In fact, many Southerners consider these to be weed-type trees because they tend to reseed easily. A lot of them will have trunks that branch close to the ground, making them good climbing trees for kids. It can be a bit messy when the flowers fall to the ground.

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There is a strain of Mimosa trees that is dominant in the Birmingham, Alabama area and has white flowers instead of pink. In fact, when going through that region, I don't recall seeing any Mimosas with pink blooms, just white ones, and they grow wild everywhere.

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