Can a mimosa tree survive in upstate New York?

Answer

Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) is usually grown in the south or the West Coast of the US, but it is actually hardy to USDA Zone 6. Prolonged temperatures close to 0°F will damage the tree, but any dead branches can be pruned back in the spring. Growing the tree in a sheltered spot will help.

Consider carefully, however, before planting this tree. Although mimosa trees have many attractive features and can make an ornamental specimen plant on a lawn, there are a number of  important reasons not to plant it:

  • First, it is an invasive species. Silk trees grow vigorously and displace native trees and shrubs, spreading by seed and vegetative means. It is difficult to remove due to the numerous long-lived seeds and its ability to re-sprout vigorously.
  • Conversely, your specimen tree will be short-lived, surviving only 10 to 20 years in the Northeast.
  • Third, its branches are brittle and it poses a serious litter problem from broken branches, the flowers and seed pods. T
  • hey are also allelopathic, meaning that they have a mechanism to prevent other plants from growing near-by.

Mimosas are extremely susceptible to fusarium wilt disease but this is less of a problem in drier, colder regions. There is a cultivar of mimosa known as cold hardy mimosa (Albizia julibrissin 'E. H. Wilson' ) which is hardy to Zone 5. A. julibrissin f. rosea is smaller (15 - 25 ft.) and cold hardy to zone 5b.

Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information

  • Last Updated Feb 02, 2021
  • Views 2550
  • Answered By Anita Finkle

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