Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Fertile, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
Mimosa trees grow best in warm climates, with winter hardiness limited to about -5°F (-21°C).
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Feeding
None generally needed. Once established, mimosas fix their own nitrogen.
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Companions
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Spacing
Single Plants: 16' 4" (5.00m) each way (minimum)
Rows: 16' 4" (5.00m) with 16' 4" (5.00m) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Mimosas can be started from seed in spring, or a seedling might be dug and transplanted from a friend’s yard. To improve germination, prime mimosa seeds by covering them with hot water for an hour or so before planting them in containers or where you want them to grow. Or, save growing time by setting out purchased plants in spring after the soil has begun to warm. Container-grown plants can be transplanted until early summer. Water young plants deeply every few weeks during their first season after planting. Once established, mimosa is reasonably drought tolerant. In home landscapes, mimosa is typically grown as a single specimen tree that grows 16 to 30 feet (5 to 8 m) tall and wide.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Graceful and gorgeous, mimosa trees produce fragrant pink blossoms in summer that are much appreciated by butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Native to Asia, mimosas grow too well in some climates and are considered invasive in parts of the US.
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Harvesting
Fresh mimosa flowers can be used to make a spicy tea, but older flowers and seed pods are non-palatable. Fast-growing mimosa trees need pruning only to remove weak branches that might break off in ice and snow.
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Troubleshooting
A soil-borne disease called mimosa wilt affects trees in some warm, humid climates. Foliage of affected trees turns yellow and dies. Disease risk increases when roots are injured by spades or construction equipment.
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