How to Grow a Pretty Mimosa or Silk Tree for a Landscape

The mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin), also called silk tree, grows in southern United States. Many of these trees grow lopsided and bent. You can prevent that with proper planting and care. The mimosa or silk tree is spectacular in the South, when it is planted properly and cared for correctly.

Plating container

Pruning shears

Step ladder

Acquire a mimosa seed or seedling, and plant it in a container. Let it grow in a sunny area until it is large enough that you can find it easily in the yard.

Plant in a sunny location away from other trees or shrubs. It does not tolerate shade and competes with any other vegetation. If you want your mimosa to grow straight and to its full potential, it is important to plant it away from other vegetation. Make sure you do not hit it with a weed trimmer and skin the bark.

Every year, before leaf buds begin to form, and while the tree is young, cut the larger branches back about one-third, shaping the tree as you cut. Cut off all branches that are smaller than the size of a pencil. If the tree leans one way, cut more on that side. Do this every year until you can no longer reach with a step ladder. At this point your tree should be shaped nicely, and it will take charge of its own growth.

Plant your mimosa in the grass and not where it will shade the house. It loses flowers, leaves and grows seed pods at different times of the year.

Mimosa trees are fast growing but have a shorter lifespan than many other landscape trees.

If you plant your mimosa in an area over your roof, it will drop flowers and leaves in places difficult to clean.

Mimosa trees often have little seedlings come up in the area, but heavy grass can prevent this growth. If your grass is thin, you may want to reconsider planting this beautiful tree.

The mimosa is a deciduous tree and will lose leaves in the fall.