It’s now in full bloom. Some think the flowers are gorgeous and want one in their yard. Maybe if they quit mowing their lawn they’d get their wish. The mimosa is that ‘Dr. Seuss-like’ tree with spreading branches and copious delicate and fragrant pink blooms. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love them.
After flowers disappear, distinctive bean-like pods form, assuming flowers have been pollinated. Mimosas are self-sterile, which means another tree must be present within a few hundred yards. Pods grow to six inches long and have flat seeds inside. They usually remain on the tree during winter. Seeds can be viable for many years and usually require some type of weathering to germinate. An animal’s digestive system can suffice but seeds are toxic to many.
Botanists refer to the leaf arrangement as bipinnate. Many tiny leaflets comprise each leaf giving the tree a fern-like feathery appearance. Leaves fold up at night and during rainstorms for protection.
Though individual leaflets are small, the combined effect creates a dense canopy that keeps light from reaching the ground underneath. This forces many existing native plants to suffer from lack of light. Most turfgrasses struggle underneath them.
Sometimes called silk trees, they are members of the bean family. This group of plants has bacteria that grow on the roots and trap nitrogen for their benefit. Consequently, mimosas can grow on poor soils with low fertility. For this reason we find them everywhere.
They are fast growing short lived trees. Twenty years is an old tree. They can reach heights of 25 feet with a 35 foot spread. The wood is weak but since trees are usually small, they seldom cause damage. Mimosas prefer sunny locations but can grow in partial shade. Bloom is less under shady conditions though.
So what if we don’t want them on our property? Cut them and treat the stumps when in active growth. Concentrated Round-up works well, but you still might have a few suckers coming up from the roots away from the main trunk. You also may have them pop up on other parts of your property, since they spread by seeds and production is prolific. Keep your lawn mowed and inspect your shrubbery regularly. Plants are easy to recognize.
Is there a use for them other than their delicate looks? Yes, parts of them are edible. The flowers can be eaten raw or steeped as a tea. They are high in antioxidants which decrease the danger associated with high LDL cholesterol.
The bark also makes a useful medicinal tea. Don’t eat the seeds though. They contain neurotoxins and are toxic. According to numerous sources, the mimosa has been used medicinally to counteract insomnia and as an antidepressant. Some call it the tree of happiness.
Traditional Chinese medicine has relied on mimosa to counteract depression, anger, grief and poor memory for centuries. I haven’t found any documented side-effects of mimosa flowers and bark. However, I feel mimosa’s beauty is best taken in through the eyes and not the mouth.
mimosa in bloom
mimosa blooms
mimosa foliage
Ted Manzer teaches agriculture at Northeastern High School.
tedmanzer 
These are beautiful. I didn’t know it was used in medicines. That’s very good to know because I’m headed in the medical direction ! I’m really loving these articles !
These flowers are so beautiful. Ididnt know this flower could be used in medicines.
I’ve never heard of using bark for tea. I thought tea could only be made from leaves ot flowers. It’s amazing how this plant can be used as medicine but the seeds are toxic.
My grandmother has one in her yard and we always used to climb on it! the pretty flowers would always fall off and be all over the place, its hard to think that a tree we treated badly could be used for so much!!
i think this tree is veru unique because it has leaves along with flowers blooming on it as well
These flowers are beautiful. It seems like almost everything can be used for medicine but Just knowing that the seed are toxic make me worry about them using this plant as medicaine.
Very pretty tree I used to have one at my old house its a shame that they are short lived tree.
ive seen alot if these trees in my life. my nana used to have a big ne in her yard that we would climb. the flowers are one of a kind.
its crazy how many beautiful flowers have a medical purpose to them. Like flowers i normally considered as a normal flower with no special features besides beauty and scents, but really they have a really good back ground to them.
ive seen this tree alot it has beautiful flowers and its unique.
I believe I’ve seen one of these when I lived in Florida. Would’ve never known that this tree could be used for medicine or even tea.
intresting how some plants can fold there leaves and or flowers at night or during a storm.
its very pretty. its weird how one part of the plant is toxic and another part can be used for medicine.
This plant has been counteracting depression, anger, grief and poor memory for centuries which is pretty cool because i would have never thought a plant could do all of that.
My mom use to have these and I hated them because they would get on my car and wouldn’t come off
its nice that it has so many uses that help people
Silk trees are a member of the bean family, which have bean like pods after the flowers disappear.The individual leaflets are small.they can reach heights of 25 feet and a spread of 35 feet.
We planted a seedling from a tree at a neighbouring property, here in Queensland Australia, the bees love it. The tree had been there for many years as l know it, and ours is over 7 years old, will be interesting to see how long it lives.