At the corner of my block there is a small lovely tropical-looking tree covered with candyfloss flowers of princess pink. Since I live in Brooklyn (which occasionally gets very cold), I have been wondering if the tree is a hallucination or some cunning model made of plastic, but it turns out that the tree is a mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin), aka the Persian silk tree. Like the green parakeets which live in my neighborhood, this little tree is evidently not as tropical as it seems.
A member of the legume family, the small to medium-sized tree has a springy crown which spreads out like an irregular umbrella. Its delicate bipinnate leaves look like fern fronds (or like Mimoseae plants, to which the Persian silk tree is not closely related). The tree has smooth olive colored bark which becomes striped as it ages. It produces dense clusters of down-like pink flowers all summer. These flowers are attractive to bees and hummingbirds. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the tree 9other than the pretty flowers) is how animated it is—during the evenings or rain storms the leaves close up and the tree takes on a hunched forlorn appearance. When it is sunny and warm it spreads out like a kid on a comfy sofa. Because of this habit the Persians call it “shabkhosb”—the night sleeper. Apparently its Japanese name is similar and the tree has become representative of sleepy summer evenings in Japanese literature and art.
The trees originally came from Asia and are native to a huge swath of the world from Persia to China. In the past two centuries people planted Albizia julibrissin trees everywhere as an ornamentals and, you guessed it, the species has become invasive. It can be found growing wild in the United States from southern New York west to Missouri and south to Texas. I wonder if my neighbors even planted their specimen or whether it just showed up like all of the trees of heaven which live around every American city.
A tea made out of this tree is used in traditional medicine to ward off confusion and dark feelings and indeed a clinical study by Korean physicians found that the methylene chloride fraction of Albizzia julibrissin extract produced an antidepressant-like effect in mice (most likely by affecting 5-HT1A receptors—a neural receptor shared by humans).
15 comments
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September 28, 2011 at 11:19 PM
Diana
These are definitely in CA too!
October 25, 2011 at 6:29 AM
Dacey
Mimosa trees tend to thrive in vacant lots, and along roadsides, rivers or streams because the flowing water easily transports their seeds.Mimosa trees will grow in conditions from full sun to partial shade. The soil should be high in acidity. A pH level of 4.6 to 5 is ideal. Water the trees on a regular basis, but do not over water.
December 14, 2011 at 5:03 AM
maria jose
Mimosa tree is a very famous due to their high number of pink blooms .The leaves of mimosa are of five to eight inches in length and resembles a fern.They have a feathery appearance, making the tree popular as an ornamental.
December 14, 2011 at 9:14 AM
Hieronymo
The trees really do have a wistful delicate beauty. I particularly like the feathery leaves.
December 27, 2011 at 5:14 AM
maria jose
Mimosa is a most popular shading tree for backyards and gardens. It really add beauty to your garden since the pink flowers of this tree use to attracts honeybees,butterflies and birds.
May 31, 2013 at 11:53 AM
Rick K
They also have an unpleasant odor akin to a certain human male body fluid.
May 31, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Wayne
Oh dear…I heard that gingko trees and cursed trees of heaven tend to reek, but I didn’t know that mimosa trees smell so personal.
August 10, 2013 at 12:25 PM
Jessica
I can attest to their invasiveness. I keep finding new sprouts along the concrete walks in my back yard. Otherwise, I love how light weight they look and their shade is lovely. I’m in Sacramento, CA
August 12, 2013 at 10:49 AM
Wayne
I know where you are coming from! I keep finding them in my garden too. They are pretty even when they are little–they look like tiny ferns or something, but I don’t want them killing all of my flowers.
October 20, 2014 at 1:56 PM
The Backyard Gardener
That photo of the street lined with Julibrissin is incredible. Stunning. Unfortunately they are rare up here in NY. Unfortunately Ailanthus altissima is another story.
October 20, 2014 at 8:12 PM
Wayne
Ailanthus altissima! Ailanthus altissima! Aargh! Why did you have to say that? [sinks to ground in anguish]
June 11, 2017 at 2:59 PM
Alice
Hi Wayne,
Thanks for the great article on the Persian Silk Tree! In your post, there’s an image of the trees lining the streets in China (2nd photo) — do you know where the image was taken? Or, where did you find the photo? I would like to order some Persian Silk Trees in China, but I’m having a difficult time finding any nurseries that would sell them here, or in Asia.
If you have any info about the photo, please contact me via the comments. Really appreciate your help 🙂
Thanks so much!
Alice
June 16, 2017 at 8:37 AM
Urban Hum Gardener
Alice, are you in China? Otherwise, you can probably get them locally. I got mine from WillisOrchards for a very low price, plus they have different varieties there including FLAME mimosa which is absolutely gorgeous.
July 9, 2017 at 11:57 AM
Anne
Can you tell me where exactly in Brooklyn there is a Persian Silk tree? I want to go see it!
July 21, 2017 at 12:44 AM
Wayne
Hahahaha–there is one between East 22nd and East 23rd on Newkirk…but maybe you can find a closer specimen with the tree map: http://jillhubley.com/project/nyctrees/#all