Mimosa – The Whole World Cultivates Mimosa for Their Cut Flower Industry

Mimosa is a name used for several plants in the pea family, all with feathery leaves and fluffy, pom-pom-shaped flowers. The true Mimosa genus includes the famous sensitive plant, whose leaves fold up when you touch them, while the golden “mimosa” sold by florists is really a kind of acacia grown for the cut flower industry.

Scientific Classification & Quick Facts

Common name	Mimosa
Scientific name	Mimosa
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Fabales
Family	Fabaceae
Type	Shrubs and herbs in the pea family
Habitat	Warm, sunny spots with well-drained soil
Native range	South and Central America (Mimosa pudica)
Special feature	Leaves of M. pudica close when touched

Which Mimosa Is Which?

Because the name is used in different ways, it helps to know the three plants people usually mean:

• True mimosas (genus Mimosa) are a large group of roughly 400 to 500 species of herbs, shrubs and small trees, mostly from the Americas. The best known is the sensitive plant, Mimosa pudica.
• Florist’s mimosa is the silver wattle, Acacia dealbata, an Australian tree with silvery leaves and masses of fragrant yellow puffball flowers in late winter.
• The mimosa tree, or silk tree (Albizia julibrissin), is an Asian tree with fluffy pink summer flowers.

The name comes from the Greek word mimos, meaning “mimic” or “actor”, because the sensitive plant’s moving leaves seemed to act as if they were alive like an animal.

The Sensitive Plant: Leaves That Move

Mimosa pudica is native to South and Central America and is grown around the world as a curiosity. Each leaf is divided into many small leaflets. Touch them, shake them or blow on them, and the leaflets quickly fold together and the leaf stalk droops. After several minutes the leaf slowly opens again.

This happens because special joints at the base of each leaf quickly lose water, so they go limp. Scientists think folding up may help protect the plant from hungry animals. The leaves also fold up every night and open in the morning.

In 1729 the French scientist Jean-Jacques d’Ortous de Mairan put a sensitive plant in a dark cupboard. Its leaves kept opening and closing on a daily schedule even without sunlight. This was one of the first experiments to show that living things have an inner “biological clock”.

The Mimosa Flower

What looks like a single fluffy flower is actually a tight ball of many tiny flowers. Each one has long stamens that stick out, and together they make the soft pom-pom shape. Sensitive plant flowers are pink, while florist’s mimosa flowers are bright yellow and sweetly scented.

Growing Mimosa at Home

Sensitive Plant Indoors

The sensitive plant makes a fun houseplant, especially for kids who like to watch it move. Grow it in a bright spot with some direct sun, such as a sunny windowsill. It likes warm rooms, about 65 to 75 F (18 to 24 C) or warmer, and can go outside in summer. Plant it in a loose, well-drained potting mix, adding some peat-free compost or perlite. Keep the soil lightly moist but never soggy.

It grows easily from seed. Soaking the seeds in warm water overnight helps them sprout. Its stems have small prickles, so handle it gently. Try not to touch it all day long, as constant folding tires the plant out.

Planting a Mimosa Tree in the Garden

Florist’s mimosa and other tree mimosas need a sunny, sheltered spot and are best in mild climates, since hard frosts can damage them. To plant one from a 1-gallon pot:

• Loosen the soil in the planting area with a garden fork or spade, about 18 to 24 inches deep, and remove stones, roots and weeds.
• If the soil is heavy clay, mix in coarse sand or grit to help it drain. If it is very sandy, mix in compost or leaf mold.
• Dig a hole about 10 inches wide and 10 inches deep.
• Ease the plant out of its pot. If the pot is stuck, carefully cut it away with snips.
• Gently loosen the roots with your fingers and trim any that are circling or tangled.
• Set the plant in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.
• Fill in with soil, firming it as you go, and water well with 1 to 2 gallons of water.

Watering

Mimosa trees reward you for a sunny spot. Water young plants regularly so the soil does not dry out completely, especially in their first year. Once established, many tree mimosas cope well with dry spells.

Some mimosa species spread quickly and have become invasive in parts of the world, including silver wattle in southern Europe and South Africa and the silk tree in the southeastern United States. Check with your local garden center before planting one outside.

Flowering and After-Bloom Care

Florist’s mimosa blooms in late winter and early spring, usually from about February to April in the Northern Hemisphere. After flowering, trim off faded flowering stems to keep the plant tidy and encourage new growth.

Mimosa as a Cut Flower

Florist’s mimosa is a star of the cut flower industry. Southern France is famous for it: the hills near Cannes are covered in yellow blossoms each winter, and the town of Mandelieu-la-Napoule holds a mimosa festival. In Italy, sprigs of mimosa are given to women on International Women’s Day, March 8.

For bouquets, cut stems when about a third to half of the little balls are open. Mimosa dries out quickly, so put the stems in water straight away and keep the vase in a cool place away from direct sun. Mimosa also dries well, keeping its yellow color in dried arrangements.

Mimosa FAQs