Mimosa

Q. In Georgia every summer we've been here I have admired the mimosa trees which grow on the side of highways and/or as ornamental trees. I recently took a seed pod from one of the trees and would like to start it. Is there something special I need to do - or just remove the individual seeds from the pod and plant in starter medium?

A. Mimosa is so beautiful. I loved them in Ohio when I was a child. Propagate from seed although summer cuttings are also practical.   Soak seeds during one day: place in a pot 3-4" in diameter filled with a light propagation mix including perlite and then transfer to pots of 6" when the plant develops or directly 3 seedlings in a pot of 6". The best seedling is selected when the plant reached approximately 5-6".  One may cover the plant to maintain a humidity sufficient in the pot.

Once you have the seeds out of the pod you will notice the hard shell. Be aware that the seeds need to germinate this way: cover the seeds with very hot water and let soak overnight or until they swell. Pick out those that didn't swell and repeat this process with them. Sow swollen seeds immediately in seeding mix covering with two to three times their thickness. Do not over water or allow to dry out and provide good drainage and bright light.

Seeds should germinate within 4-7 days with this pretreatment. Do not overwater the pots and keep humidity low or fungal problems may occur.

These plants prefer full sun and moderately fertile well-drained soil. Water well during the growing period and sparingly in winter.

Q. My parents planted a mimosa tree in our yard (Cleveland) when I was little and I just loved it. The leaves that folded up at night and those beautiful pink flowers kept me captivated! They brought it back from either Florida or Oklahoma and it didn't last long-maybe a year or two? Just wondered if I would be able to have one in Cleveland OH. If so where could I get one and how should it be treated once planted? Does it need shade or sun? If not are there any other trees/bushes/plants that offer the same type of pink flower that could be planted here?

A. Mimosa is a beautiful plant I have known for years as the sensitive plant due to the leaf curling as you mentioned. One of nature's protective responses! It is a tropical plant and will not survive where temperatures drop down below 50F let alone freezing and snow.

This is a shrubby plant from Brazil India and Ecuador that belongs to the Pea family Leguminosae. There are numerous kinds but only a few are in cultivation in North America. This plant has prickly stems and finely divided leaves. Its flowers are produced in little fluffy balls that are usually pink or purple. These plants are known as the Sensitive Plant because its leaflets fold up when they're touched or blown by the wind. They close up in pairs beginning at the top until they reach the base of the leafstalk when the whole leaf drops as if it's on a hinge.

Mimosa pudica is best treated as an annual. A compost of equal parts loam peat leaf mold and sand is used. When you repot the balls of soil must be kept undisturbed. After repotting they should be shaded and kept in a humid atmosphere. No water is applied to the soil until it becomes fairly dry then it's saturated and kept moist throughout the summer. When they're established in 4-inch pots they should be kept in a well-ventilated sunny greenhouse for the remainder of the summer; afterwards they are thrown out because they are not easy to keep alive during the winter. Most failures with the cultivation of Mimosas are due to overwatering. It will cause the roots to decay quickly.

M. speggazzinii forms a low shrub that can be kept for many years. It's raised and treated the same way M. pudica is except it can be lifted in the fall and kept in a greenhouse instead of being discarded. The minimum temperature should be 55F and the soil should become fairly dry before watering. In early March the shoot M. pudica is propagated best with seeds that are sown in March in a compost of equal parts of peat moss and sand or in sandy soil. Two-inch pots are used; these should be half-filled with crocks which are then covered with a small amount of rough leaves or fiber. Fill the pots up with the compost and plant three seeds in each pot.