Silk Tree (Albizia, Albizzia, Mimosa Tree, or Strawberry Tree)
Albizia julibrissin. FABACEAE (LEGUMINOSAE)
Planting and Growing Silk Trees
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow silk tree, albizia, albizzia, mimosa tree, or strawberry tree in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, pods, and seed of silk trees
- Growing conditions for silk tree
- When to plant silk tree
- How to plant silk tree
- How to prune silk tree
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of silk tree
- Landscape uses of silk tree
- Pest and disease control for silk tree
Growing Silk Trees
Several cultivars of fast-growing, spreading, deciduous or semi-evergreen trees, 20–40 ft. (6–12 m) tall, 15–30 ft. (4.5–9 m) wide, with fine-textured, deep green, yellow green, feathery, divided leaves, 9–12 in. (23–30 cm) long, and often multitrunked.
Cultivated species include plume albizia, Albizia distachya; silk tree, Albizia julibrissin; and woman’s-tongue tree, Albizia lebbeck.
Silk Tree Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Showy, yellow green, pink, white, plume- or tassle-like flowers, in late summer, borne in ball- or cone-shaped clusters, 1–2 in. (25–50 mm) wide, form beanlike pods with seed in winter.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 7–10. Tender. Best in mild-winter, warm-summer climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp to dry, well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Average–low. 6.5–8.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun to partial shade. Space 5–10 ft. (1.5–3 m) apart, depending on species.Care: Easy. Keep damp until established; drought tolerant thereafter. Avoid fertilizing. Pinch growth sprouts on trunk to prevent bushiness. Propagate by seed.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep damp until established; drought tolerant thereafter. Avoid fertilizing. Pinch growth sprouts on trunk to prevent bushiness. Propagate by seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, screens, walls in arid, natural, seaside, small-space gardens and patios. Good for color. Flowers and seedpods attract bees, birds. Drops flowers, leaves, seedpods, requiring maintenance. Pest and disease resistant.