ALBIZIA JULIBRISSIN

Description

This is a pretty and wide spreading tree which can be several times wider than it is high with very fine, ferny, divided foliage and fluffy, pink flowers which form in late summer and early autumn. The flowers, which have a sweet pea-like perfume, are followed by flat seed pods. Known by a wide variety of common names, such as Persian silk tree or pink siris, the species is usually called "silk tree" or "mimosa" in the United States. Its leaves slowly close during the night and during periods of rain, the leaflets bowing downward as if the tree were sleeping: its modern Persian name shabkhosb apparently means "night sleeper" (from shab "night" and -khosb "sleeper"). In Japan its common names are nemunoki, nemurinoki and nenenoki which all mean "sleeping tree".

Sowing Advice

SOW FINELY & EVENLY. COVER THINLY WITH COMPOST OR GRIT. SOW IN GENTLE HEAT IN DAYLIGHT & KEEP MOIST. GROW ON INDIVIDUAL SEEDLINGS IN 3" POTS. PLANT OUT IN WELL-DRAINED OPEN POSITION.

Key Facts