Mimosa Tree

This is my new favorite tree! The owner of the property happened to come out as we were admiring her trees and identified them for me. They have leaves that are all broken up like ferns, seed pods that look like snow peas, and these wonderful fuzzy pink flowers whose petals are made up of little, soft spikes. When I touched the flowers, hardly any sensation registered on my fingertips.


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From reading a number of posts online, I gather that many people consider this tree to be quite invasive and destructive when the roots push up fences and so forth. From http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00240/mimt.htm

History and Description
The mimosa tree is from Asia and Africa. It is sometimes called a Silk tree. It grows to an average of 20-30 feet. It is a deciduous tree, which attracts bees and butterflies. A mimosa tree has a single trunk and fern-like leafs with fragrant pom-pom like flowers.

Uses
It was introduced in 1745 as an ornamental tree. People plant it in their yards to add beauty to their surroundings.

Reproduction
It spreads by animals and water-dispersed seeds. In wet areas, the seedpods float downstream. This enables them to reproduce quickly. The Mimosa grows better in dry-to-wet places. It is able to survive the winter in the southern U.S. but flowers better in warmer, drier climates. The flowers come up from May to July and the fruits and seeds come up from June to February.

Ecological Threat
Mimosa trees grow rapidly and reproduce easily. One mimosa tree can produce over two hundred thousand seeds each year. This threatens the native species.

Control
Pull the seedlings or shallow-rooted plants when the dirt is wet. If it starts to grow again, cut down the re-growth. Using chemicals also works. Roundup is very effective for controlling the spread of the mimosa tree.

Here is an image from the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. For more information on this beautiful tree, go to http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/node/29