What To Know About Mimosa Trees

 What To Know About Mimosa Trees

Persian Silk Tree / Mimosa Trees

Latin Name: Albizia julibrissin                                                                 Family: Fabacaea

 

Growing zone: Albizia is hardy in zones 6 - 9. Grows in rocky or sandy, dry soil that is very acidic. It requires full sun to part shade. Trees will grow fast up to 40 feet tall with a canopy as wide as 32 feet wide within 2-3 years. Most of these mimosa trees have multiple trunks. Trees tend to live about 10 - 20 years at the most because they are susceptible to disease. It has been known to fix nitrogen in the soil.


Identifiers:

Leaves: Leaves grow in a fern like pattern that produces stems across from one another. They have mini leaves on each of those stems growing directly across from one another as well. These mini leaf petals are oblong and smooth, and grow to about 6-12mm long. They are a deep green and have a lighter green underside. This tree is deciduous.

Flowers: Mimosa flowers grow in bunches like grapes, 7- 10 flowers per stem and bloom between July through September depending on the climatic temperature. They are similar to dandelion seeds and are puffy. The blooms are white at the base and bright pink on the tips. They are highly fragrant and attract pollinators because of the sweet fragrant nectar almost mimicking honeysuckle.  At the end of the bloom cycle the flowers will begin to wilt and turn brown in which it looks like wet long haired dog fur. 

Seeds: The fruit of the Mimosa tree are the flat, thin, brown paper like seed pods. They house anywhere from 12- 25 seeds per pod. The seeds split and start the process of regrowth.

Medicinal Uses:
Only the leaves are eaten as a vegetable. It is the only part of the tree that is palatable. The young leaves are used in stir frys.

Bark: Pain killer, parasite killer, anti-gas, sedative, tonic, oxytocic, heals wounds, and diuretic.
Flowers: Tonic, stimulant or sedative, carminative, digestive, used for mood and irritability.

Can be tinctured, infused in oil, used in tea, or encapsulated.

Tincture: taken orally for mood boost or insomnia, can be used as a minor pain killer.

Oil: Healing skin ailments such as cuts or bruises.

Magikal Use:


Element: Water & Air                                                                Planet: Saturn

Energies: Love, healing, protection, feminine, calm emotions, creativity.
Symbolizes prophetic dreams & removes the sense of isolation.


Use dry flowers to clear and calm the mind, to find your inner wisdom, and increase psychic work. Gain fertility & love in spring and early summer.

Use bark to ground yourself, heal, reflect, & receive energy. For fertility & love in the fall.