Albizia julibrissin anyone?

[canadianplant]

Off and on I find some information about this tree saying they survive reliably in zone 6, but the roots can survive zone 5 or lower with a deep snow pack or good protection of a stump. Has anyone here tried these? They seem to be all over the east coast of the US.

[andym]

I grew one for over ten years ... plain Albizzia Julibrissin. It grew well during our warmer sunnier summers but never flowering well. Eventually rotted at the base They do better in a Continental climate with heat to ripen the wood. I currently have the Ombrella clone with superb big deep red feathery flowers. Nearly lost it to the heat this Summer as it was only just planted in the ground and it dried out but then I have had problems with many plants during our hot spell. The problem with this species is that it comes into leaf late and drops is leaves early.... for me anyway

[hardyjim]

Commonly called Mimosa here...

I have seen them pretty decent size in St.Louis,very rarely
do I see them around here but I don't look either..............
I will keep an eye out for them but I would think z6 is spot on.

[TerdalFarm]

Common as weeds down here.
As near as I can tell, they all survived the February 2011 "colder than the south pole" event (-12 oF Tulsa airport; -31 oF in nearby areas) albeit with damage. So, I say go for it.

[cuja1]

Hi, I have 2 here in my yard that survive -10 F as seedlings, every year I see them more and more here in Springfield. We were rated as a zone 5b, now we've been move up to 6a. unless you are north of interstate 72 (more or less) then you are 5b. half of springfield is 6a and the other is 5b. at any rate I've seen mimosas all over springfield. I still think there are 2 different kinds and they look exactly the same. I think there are hardy 5b ones and then the more southerly ones. I believe mine could survive where jim lives.

The reason I think there are hardy and not hardy kinds is because back in about 1997 I brought one back from Nashville TN and planted it in my parents yard. Every year the old wood was killed to the ground and new wood grew up from the roots, like a die back perennial. Never the less, other trees around town were not killed back to the ground.

It doesn't appear that smaller plants are less hardy since my seedlings weathered a harsh winter with little problems.

here's a pic of mine. It has yet to flower but others around town have flowered profusely all summer.
<a href="http://s1250.photobucket.com/user/Sprin ... 6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh5 ... 0_5176.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 100_5176.jpg"/></a>

I could send you some seeds if its not too hard to get through to Canada. They are very easy to grow.

[canadianplant]

Seeds arent the problem getting into canada as far as I know, its plants, especially in soil.

Thanks for the input. I did read over and over about their ability to regenerate from roots. I do have the bonus of usually having a very deep snow pack, and also mulch almost everything I grow, just in case. I hoping to see if i can start some over winter to get them a decent size before summer.

[cuja1]

My only concern would be is if they are seeds from a hardy mimosa. I could be wrong. Maybe global warming has blessed us with a warmer climate than before but I still think there is 5b hardy and the non 5b hardy. If you get seeds I'd get them from a specimen from the coldest place you can find them growing. Just my thoughts. Good luck.

[cuja1]

Also, I had a hard time getting them to grow this winter, maybe because they didn't have enough sun. If you grow them I'd make sure the room is warm and they are in a sunny window. They grew fine this summer.

[DesertZone]

Jeff,
Very nice looking tree! If you get any seeds I sure would like to trade.

[canadianplant]

I have a few set of lights for the winter, and 3 bright south windows. I can usually do quite well during the winter.

[cuja1]

I have a few set of lights for the winter, and 3 bright south windows. I can usually do quite well during the winter.

Sounds good. Let me know if you want me to send you some seeds.

[siege2050]

I live in zone 7 and they are all over the place including my yard, never have cold damage that I notice.