EH Wilson Mimosa Tree (Albizia julibrissin ‘Ernest Wilson’)

Ernest Henry “Chinese” Wilson was a man on a mission. Specifically, that mission was to collect plant specimens for the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, MA. in the early 1900s. He is responsible for the introduction of thousands of plant species from the Far East to the West.

On one particular visit to Korea in 1918, he was staying at a small hotel and fell in love with a tree in the courtyard. He collected a few seeds and sent them back to Boston. It would be almost 4 years before the seeds were planted in the Arboretum. The New England winter was harsh that year one hardy little tree survived and was named after its discoverer. So, we now have a very tropical-looking tree that will survive New England winters!

EH Wilson Mimosa Tree (Albizia julibrissin ‘Ernest Wilson’) is a great Mimosa Tree with silky, tassel-like pink flowers that bloom from May through August! The fern-like leaves provide a soft dappled shade for your garden. These scented blooms attract pollinators! You’ll enjoy the umbrella-like canopy that adds elegance to any landscape!

Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 5 to 10, these deciduous trees can grow 20-35 feet in height and spread to a shade-producing 20-40 feet wide! Very easy to grow and xeric once established, you’ll enjoy a touch of the tropics regardless if it snows where you live! It’s well suited to hot, dry, low-water situations where other trees would struggle. It’s also adapted to colder climates with high summer humidity.

Planting and Application:

Mimosa trees are perfect in tough urban areas as well as traditional suburban gardens, this tree demands to be seen. Plant it where you can enjoy it from the inside and the outside. The airy flowers and subtle fragrance will enchant you all season! As an added bonus, the beautiful flowers produce a sweet nectar that attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and essential pollinators to your yard!

The lacy, graceful EH Wilson Mimosa is very adaptable in the landscape, and works well in formal and informal situations! For lush shade and naturalized groupings, plant in groups a ways away from pools and patios, where they can be allowed to take on their natural form. Site this tree wisely in the right setting, and you’ll absolutely love it!

Use this tree to create a gorgeous garden wall or backdrop at the back edge of your lot. As a member of the legume family, Mimosa will fix nitrogen in your soil enriching everything else planted around it! Plus this gorgeous shade tree is wonderful for blocking the hot afternoon sun coming into a south or southwest-facing window of your home. Avoid planting directly over a seating area, however, since the blooms can sometimes stain.

• Stunning Tasseled Bright Pink Fluffy Flowers May-August
• Soft Fine-Textured Foliage
• Excellent Longevity!
• Fragrant Blooms For Pollinators & Long Bloom-Time!
• Graceful Umbrella-Shaped Canopy
• Shade & Specimen Tree, Dramatic Accents & Groupings

Tips for Care:

This is a very fast-growing tree. In full sun it will grow to near full height and width very quickly. It is very drought tolerant and tolerates salt spray and both acidic and alkaline soils. It will produce seed pods and seedlings may germinate in watershed areas. They love the heat and tolerate dry soil types beautifully! Plant them in full sun in fast-draining soil. To help insulate the root system and hold in moisture more evenly, provide a 3-4 inch layer of mulch over the soil surface. It also has the ability to grow in alkaline soil but will grow best with regular watering in that soil type. Ensure new trees are consistently watered to ensure they are established.

Despite the fast growth rate, Mimosa does not require much pruning when selected for areas that can allow it to grow to full size, but you can prune any time this plant is dormant. Study the Plant Highlights to understand the space requirement. Understand that the canopy of the EH Wilson Mimosa gets just as wide as the tree grows.

• Full Sun
• Moderate to Low Moisture Needs – Drought Tolerant
• Well-Drained Enriched Soil
• Prune Late Winter When Dormant
• Easy Care & Fast Growing
• Rare Cold Tolerance Down to -15°F Below Zero

A touch of the tropics for your yard!