Common Name: Mimosa

General Information

Albizia julibrissin is a deciduous tree with an open, flat-topped, spreading crown; it can grow 6 - 16 metres tall[].
The tree is harvested from the wild, mainly for local medicinal use and as a source food and wood. It is grown as a shade tree and soil conditioner, and is often grown as an ornamental tree because of its appealing fragrance, showy flowers and low maintenance requirement[]. It is often grown as a summer bedding plant, being grown from seed and the plants either being potted up or left in situ to see if they survive the winter[]. The tree could be used as a pioneer when establishing woodland gardens.
Often grown as an ornamental, the tree can self-sow freely and has often escaped from cultivation. It competes with native plants in disturbed habitats and occasionally in forested areas[]. Typical disturbed habitat may include roadsides, vacant lots and along river banks[].

Known Hazards

The seeds contain toxic amino acids[].

Botanical References

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Range

W. Asia - Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran; E. Asia - China, Japan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar.

Habitat

Open sunny ravines, forests and by rivers up to 2,100 metres in the Himalayas[, ].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Albizia julibrissin prefers a continental climate with hot summers to ripen its wood, cold winters and usually a clear movement from one season to another. In such conditions a dormant plant can tolerate temperatures down to at least -20°c, but in more maritime climates with their cooler summers the tree is likely to be hardy only to -10°c[, ]. In maritime climates the plant is often tempted to come into growth early and this new growth is not cold tolerant and can easily be damaged by late spring frosts.
Prefers a sunny position, but also succeeds in light shade[]. Grows best in a light, rich soil, but succeeds in a wide range of soils, preferably well-drained and moisture retentive[, ]. Succeeds in dry soils and also in soils of low fertility[, ]. Highly fertile soils can promote soft sappy growth which is frost tender[]. Trees tolerate a high pH, saline soils, high winds and drought[, , ].
The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[].
The form 'Rosea' is hardier and more compact than the species, succeeding even in the drier parts of Britain if given some protection[].
If killed back to the ground by a severe winter, plants can often resprout from the base[].
The wood is somewhat brittle and subject to breakage during violent storms[].
Plants are quite tolerant of pruning and can be fan-trained for growing on a wall. Any pruning is best done in late winter or early spring[].
Quite tolerant of being transplanted[]. Plants often produce suckers[].
The tree often dies at an early age from Fusarium wilt, a fungal disease for which there is no cure[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].


Quite tolerant of being transplanted[]. Plants often produce suckers[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked. An aromatic flavour[, , , ], they are used as a potherb[].

Flowers - cooked. Eaten as a vegetable[].

The dried leaves are a tea substitute[, ].

Medicinal

The flower heads are carminative, digestive, sedative and tonic[, , ]. They are used internally in the treatment of insomnia, irritability, breathlessness and poor memory[, ]. The flowers are harvested as they open and are dried for later use[].

The stem bark is anodyne, anthelmintic, carminative, discutient, diuretic, oxytocic, sedative, stimulant, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary[, , ]. It is used internally in the treatment of insomnia, irritability, boils and carbuncles[]. Externally, it is applied to injuries and swellings[]. The bark is harvested in spring or late summer and is dried for later use[].

A gummy extract obtained from the plant is used as a plaster for abscesses, boils etc and also as a retentive in fractures and sprains[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The open canopy allows enough light for other plants to grow below the foliage. The tree also fixes atmospheric nitrogen and, with its heavy fall of litter (leaves, flowers and pods), it helps to improve soil condition[]. This makes it a good plant to use as the canopy in a permaculture garden[].
The tree been used as a reclamation plant because of its ability to establish itself on scoured shores and open areas[]. It is a natural pioneer species, readily invading disturbed areas, and would be a good plant to grow when establishing a woodland garden - with the proviso that it is only used in areas where it is native because of its ability to invade non-native areas[].

Other Uses

A gummy extract of the plant is used as a plaster[]. No more details are given.

Wood - dense, hard, strong, takes a good polish. Used for furniture, industrial applications, firewood etc[, , , ].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak 24 hours in hot water and sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse or sow as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[]. Germinates in 2 - 3 months at 19°c. Scarification helps[]. There are about 11,000 seeds to a pound, about 25 - 33% of which germinate[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of fairly rich soil when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors[].
Root cuttings, late winter in a greenhouse[, ].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[].
Suckers planted out in late winter[].