Mimosa trees (magnolia, Maple Trees, front yard, south)

[si33]

Perfectly stated posts/thoughts on this one..

Extremely invasive and a big weedy problem even here where we lack the humidity which drives many other plants wild..It is also being carefully watched by our Ag. agencies, as well as the CA. invasive plant council..every time i see this one in a yard im re landscaping, it is the first thing to go..and often it will turn up seedlings years after the original tree was removed..

Sadly, Black locust, brought here by the pioneers, is also considered somewhat invasive..kind of sad since it is such a beautiful tree..

Purple robe while a little sparser in overall foliage, is no less a great tree..

Yellow wood is also a nice tree...though i wasn't lucky enough to see a more mature specimen than the ones planted around the apartment complex i was living in back in Cincinnati..From what i remember, the flowers smelled great..another bonus of this one.

Anyone back there ever try to work with Laburnum or Golden Chain Tree??...im curious because they are at their warm-temperature tolerance limit here..wondering how they might do back east.. Ive heard that they can take a fair amount of cold..anyhow, It strongly resembles Cassia fistula, a remarkably beautiful subtropical commonly seen in parts of Florida and being trialed in So. Cal. Imagine a huge 30-45+ foot tall tree covered in bright yellow showers of flowers..Spectacular..Both the Cassia and the Chain trees..

Mimosa is the Grubby teenage brother of the Legume family..

[Shagbark Hickory]

Originally Posted by janelle144

Mimosa Trees

I think they are a beautiful tree. My parents had one in their yard and only one. They didn't take over. I love the blooms and they smell so nice.

They don't take over the same yard, the seeds spread miles and miles away to natural areas. Not to home landscapes that are maintained and mowed constantly.

Why is it so hard for people to grasp this concept?

[citydweller]

Mimosas are blooming now and you can seem them growing all along the interstates around here. Amazing how they proliferate.

[In the Pines]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

They're native to Asia but yet they reproduce here with no problem, that's what makes them invasive. They take up space that native plants could be using.

Personally I call them "ghetto palms" and I think they look trashy in the yard of a nice home, but that's just my opinion (ride around affluent neighborhoods, you won't see Mimosas because landscapers get rid of them). I rip them up every chance I get.

ghetto palms - funny. Interesting how things are different in different parts of the country. I live in the most affluent neighborhood in my area and it's the only place in town where I've found Mimosas. Around here, Magnolias are considered a nuisance but are beloved in many other parts of the country.

My interest in Mimosas started b/c, not having seen any for at least 20 years, I was interested in how well they seemed to grow with no chemicals and no watering other than rainfall. I don't use chemicals and believe in xeriscaping so I thought I would inquire about the Mimosa. Hmm... I don't like invasive species, though.

Thanks for all the advice!

[caution]

if you live in a zone higher than 5 (planting zone) and and east of Dallas/Tulsa/KC chances are high the mimosa is on your state invasive list or working it's way there.

remember, the zones are moving, so this tree is probably on the move too -- Hardiness Zone Changes at arborday.org

[janelle144]

Originally Posted by Shagbark Hickory

They don't take over the same yard, the seeds spread miles and miles away to natural areas. Not to home landscapes that are maintained and mowed constantly.

Why is it so hard for people to grasp this concept?

I don't see them growing in the country so the seeds must not blow that far. ????? I never pulled up those trees in the yard but had many elm trees coming up.

[DubbleT]

You may live in an area or an environment that hasn't been affected yet. Here's a map showing how far the threat has spread, and a good description of the problem,

Eastern Forest Threat Center - Silktree

[denverian]

My grandparents had a big one in their back yard when I was a kid - and that was in the Kansas City area. I noticed if it got unusually cold in winter, it would have some branches dead the following spring, but it grew really fast. I love the leaves and the flowers, but as I recall, it spread and started other trees.

Here in Denver there are a couple large ones at the Botanic Gardens, but other than that, I haven't seen any growing around the city.

[catchick30]

I have 2 here and thought of putting 1 at new property, but due to this forum have found out they are invasive and did some reading.
I've read and found interesting that "Mimosa seeds have impermeable seed coats that allow them to remain dormant for years. One study showed 90% viability after five years; another Albizia species had 33% germination of seeds after 50 years in opend storage"

[Gerania]

Great map DubbleT. I was quite surprised to see Mimosa growing up here in New Jersey. Last year I spotted a few along a dirt farm road between a small business and an undeveloped property. That is just the sort of "waste" land where they get a foothold.

Originally Posted by DubbleT

You may live in an area or an environment that hasn't been affected yet. Here's a map showing how far the threat has spread, and a good description of the problem,

Eastern Forest Threat Center - Silktree