Leaf
Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Silk tree
Albizia julibrissin Durazz.
Also known as: Persian silk tree, Mimosa
Family: Fabaceae
5 to 10 m tall
Planted as a specimen in gardens in southern France for its light shade and spectacular flowering
Flowering: June – August
Full sun
Hardy to about -15°C at root level, the aerial parts may freeze north of the Loire
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its compound leaves fold up every evening at sunset, a movement called nyctinasty.
🍃 Leaves
Deciduous, bipinnately compound, very finely divided, feathery look, folding at night
🌸 Flowers
Silky pink tufts with long, fine stamens, grouped in sprays at the ends of the twigs
🍎 Fruits
Flat light brown pods, persisting on the tree after the leaves have fallen
🪵 Bark
Smooth, grey-brown
🗺️ Distribution
Native to Asia, from Iran to Japan, widely grown around the Mediterranean
🐝 Value for pollinators
Very nectar-rich flowers, appreciated by bees and butterflies
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted for its spectacular summer flowering and light foliage giving dappled shade
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Seeds and pods mildly toxic if ingested
🌿 Other Fabaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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