new plant to me
by
Sherrie S
+18
Yesterday I bought the Mimosa plant. It had a cute pink flower & it appears to be a ground cover. I only bought 3 plants to try it out.
Could I use this in a large area that is very shady? The shade tolerent grass died.
Could I use this in a large area that is very shady? The shade tolerent grass died.
three little plants
another view of 3 little plants
19 answers
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some folks consider it a weed. I'll let you decide. It typically likes full sun but might do OK in moderate shade. see http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2573/
Walter Reeves
on Mar 15, 2012
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It's a native (and a larval food source for the little sulphur butterfly) that's becoming quite popular around here, Sherrie. It probably gets its weedy reputation from its fast growth, so best to plant it where there are some barriers. (You'll find it in the medians in the Pavilion at Port Orange shopping center for example.) It won't be happy in deep shade. More info from the University of Florida Extension Service: http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/GardenPubsAZ/Mimosa.pdf
Douglas Hunt
on Mar 16, 2012
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I'm planning this for my backyard which has concrete borders to keep it from taking over. My yard is very large for a subdividion & I don't want just mulch in some areas so I will give it a try. I have Roundup in case it is a problem. Thank you Walter & Douglas.
Sherrie S
on Mar 16, 2012
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I'll be anxious to hear how it does for you. I am thinking of putting some in a contained area under a crepe myrtle.
Douglas Hunt
on Mar 17, 2012
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Douglas, after reading your posting about the sulphur butterfly I think I will plant the mimosa in a sunny bed where I have milk weeds for Monarchs and other butterfly plants. The bed has concrete borders so some wild plant won't take over the whole yard. Walter, weeds are OK in some instances (like milk weeds). Thank you both for the valuable info. Today is Roundup day for the bad weeds.
Sherrie S
on Mar 17, 2012
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Well douglas I can say this is a fast growing, healthy looking plant even though it is in full sun all day. I am glad I got it because it is the only plant that could live in that full sun area. It is within concrete borders so it won't take over everything. I'm glad I bought it.
Sherrie S
on May 07, 2012
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I've never seen this before, we have the trees. Is this something for the south only?
Sandra R
on May 08, 2012
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Sandra, the latin name is Mimosa strigillosa. It is hardy to zone 8B.
Douglas Hunt
on May 08, 2012
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Douglas, those three little plants grew like nuts. I had them surrounded by concrete but I could't contain them. They were pretty pink and kept making bigger flowers but they were too invasive for me. I dug the 3 plants up today and it was difficult to get ALL of their runners. I'll be watching this area!!! LIKE - NO!
Sherrie S
on Jul 29, 2012
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Walter, I forgot to mention I really believe it is a weed and to think I purchased it??
Sherrie S
on Jul 29, 2012
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We live and learn, don't we, Sherrie? Based on your experience I'm now unlikely to plant that.
Douglas Hunt
on Jul 30, 2012
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Yes we do learn. You're making a good choice NOT planting them.
Sherrie S
on Jul 30, 2012
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I had a Mimosa tree...big and tall..with the leaves like your plant with pink fluffy flowers.
Terra Gazelle
on Jun 07, 2015
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I LOVE sensitivit plants! Weed or not! I believe they can be grown in containers too.
Angela Carter DePew
on May 06, 2016
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yes they are pretty. And I also have a mimosa tree. Love them
Sue Kiene
on May 16, 2016
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I would love a Mimosa tree but the plant is like a weed in growth. I would hope the tree didn't become an invasive tree in Florida.
Sherrie S
on May 22, 2016
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You can pick up the pods and help keep down possible babies as once they start blooming there are quite a few pods but the pods are easy to see and takes a while for them to dry out to open. I live near the Ohio Michigan border and up here you do not see a very many of them because people do not know about them or the people that do, to protect them for the first couple of winters to get them properly established. I started one at my old house and got it established and last year I started one at my new house. I can see the little leaves and new branches getting ready to start shooting out. I started one for some friends of mine who are avid gardeners and theirs got ate by the bunnies down to the ground. So I have 3 more started (maybe more if I am lucky) and will get them established and found new homes or maybe just out in my yard since I have a couple of acres with few trees. I have other new baby trees plus others up to about 10 years old so no real big shade trees established.
Sue Kiene
on May 23, 2016
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I planted two mimosa and it has spread very fast thru both full sun and shade. It is a pretty ground cover but weeds can grow in it and it is hard to keep "clean".
Sch8769026
on Sep 26, 2016
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From Wikipedia - lots more information if you check the links: the tree: Albizia julibrissin, Persian silk tree, called Mimosa in the United States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albizia_julibri... the plant: Mimosa pudica, sensitive plant - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimosa_pudica
Bklynbetts65
on Oct 10, 2016
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