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The Persian Silk Tree or Albizia julibrissin, is often called the mimosa tree.
It’s native to Asia, but it’s also around the corner from me here in the middle of Bristol City, UK.
It grows fast and can add a meter to its height every year.
At night or during rain, its leaves fold inward and bow downward, hence its name of ‘sleeping tree’. As dawn breaks or the rain stops, the leaves unfurl again.
It has clusters of fluffy, silky pink flowers which emit a subtle fragrance very popular with pollinators.
It can become invasive outside its natural habitat, so not everyone loves it.
The seeds have impermeable coats which allow them to remain dormant for years until favorable conditions arise. This survival strategy ensures the species’ persistence, even if individual trees succumb to their innate fragility.
Read more © Susan Alison 2024
