Mimosa, in winter, bears exceptional fragrant, bright gold yellow flowers.
Key facts about mimosa
Name – Acacia dealbata
Family – Mimosaceae
Type – tree
Height – 13 to 32 feet (4 to 10 meters)
Exposure – full sun
Soil: well drained, sandy – Foliage: evergreen – Flowering: winter → spring
Proper planting of the winter mimosa tree, its pruning and the care you’ll give it will help you have a magnificent mimosa tree, whether in pots or in the garden.
Mimosa is planted preferably in spring or in fall in a sunny spot and, ideally, sheltered from wind.
If you choose to grow your mimosa tree in a pot for a deck, balcony or terrace, its fragrance will spread in the entire vicinity as soon as the first flowers unfurl.
Indeed, mimosa tree particularly loves sun-endowed emplacements that are protected from drafts, and especially well-drained soil.
In regions with harsh winters, your best option is to plant your mimosa tree in large pots so that you may bring them indoors over winter.
Mimosa is a shrub that will grow very well in a pot or large garden box, even though proper growing conditions must be provided.
It’s a pleasure to place this pot near a window you open in winter to ventilate. The scent will spread through your home!Note: Have the best of both worlds! A full-blown tree outside, and a vase with cut branches in the house! Indeed, mimosa buds will still bloom as cut flowers.
Mimosa tree resists freezing if moderate, 23°F (-5°C) at the coldest. This is especially true when the bouts of freezing are short.
When growing directly in the ground and if the weather freezes deeply in your area, protect your tree by implementing our advice on protecting plants against the cold.
If you transfer a potted mimosa to the ground, remember to winterize it for at least three years.
This is especially important if you’ve previously been bringing it indoors for protection.
These first three “outdoor winters” will gradually harden the tree until it can cope against freezing on its own.
Once properly settled in with a developed root system, the mimosa tree calls for minimal care. The only thing you might fear is having a late deep frost spell hit the mimosa tree in full bloom.
Otherwise, mimosa is so vigorous that some people call it an invasive plant. But stand assured: regular care and pruning will restrain its rapid growth.
This tree normally doesn’t need any pruning at all, unless you want to start shaping it somewhat. Important to know is that you should only prune after the blooming is over.
Mimosa isn’t a tree that requires much watering, except when potted, of course. However, it hates excess moisture that has a tendency to make the roots rot, eventually killing the tree.
Watering a mimosa tree planted in the ground
Watering potted mimosa
Mimosa is known thanks to florists who sell it in January, when flowers are still in the bud. It already is fragrant enough to spread its scent throughout an entire house!
Its foliage is evergreen and its blooming has a fresh, appealing smell.
A winter-blooming tree, it is also particularly appreciated for the color of its flowers, the fragrance they impart and, most of all, its blooming period.
Winter’s deepest and darkest months is when this tree drapes itself in full color and releases its delicious spring-like fragrance throughout the neighborhood.
You can also take advantage of all this tree’s gifts on your terrace, balcony or deck if you plant it in a large garden box. Simply water it as soon as the soil turns dry.
Note that there is a certain confusion in terms: the tree that is commonly called Mimosa tree is actually an Acacia, whereas the tree that is commonly called acacia is really the locust tree. In addition, for Americans, a mimosa is a tree of the Albizia genus, the silk tree.
Now, about varieties: over 1200 mimosa varieties have been numbered throughout the world, and the first ones were introduced in Europe first along the Mediterranean, then along the Atlantic. They’ve spread across the temperate hemisphere ever since.
No need to add any fertilizer because a mimosa tree never needs fertilizer, even upon planting. An exception to this is when growing mimosa in pots: the soil must be replenished. Simple mulch is enough and will keep water from evaporating and weeds from growing.
Mimosa trees can resist moderate freezing down to 23°F (-5°C), especially during short cold spells. In regions with harsh winters and deep freezes, it’s best to grow mimosa in large pots so you can bring them indoors, or protect ground-planted trees with cold protection measures. Trees transferred from pots to ground should be winterized for at least three years to gradually harden them.
Mimosa has a delicious, fresh, spring-like fragrance that is strong enough to spread throughout an entire house or neighborhood. The scent is particularly notable in winter when the tree blooms, and even cut branches with buds will release this appealing fragrance indoors.
Potted mimosa requires regular, moderate watering during winter only when it isn’t freezing. In summer and during hot weather, water in the evening to prevent immediate evaporation. Water as soon as the soil turns dry, but avoid excess moisture as it causes root rot.
Mimosa doesn’t require pruning unless you want to shape it. The key timing rule is to prune only after blooming is over. Regular pruning will help restrain its rapid growth, as mimosa is so vigorous that some consider it invasive.
Mimosa propagates best through cuttings taken in summer, though spring cuttings also work. Seeds gathered from trees germinate readily, and you can even grow a new mimosa tree from bark. For potted mimosa, replenish the soil as the tree grows since it requires soil replenishment when container-grown.
