Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' Rgds

Thank you everyone. Yes, my daughter and I know about the negative aspects about Mimosas. I have always grown them wherever I lived, so she grew up with them. I have them here in my yard. But even so, that is the tree she wants. If she doesn't like it, she can always cut it down and plant something else there. Or plant something else there just in case she does end up wanting to cut it down. (LOL) In the meantime, she would have a lovely shade tree for the patio area. They grow so fast and they need the shade ASAP. I can mail her a dormant one from my yard this fall, but I thought if someone lived near there and had some they wanted to get rid of, she could go get one or two. schoolhouse: The names to look for are 'Silk Tree Mimosa' or 'Silky Mimosa', or 'Silky Acacia' (Albizzia julibrissin). I provided a LINK below for you to go take a look. Beautiful tree. I can mail you some seeds if you want to grow your own trees. They are so easy to grow from seeds and grow really fast. That's where I got my trees - from a friend's tree. In two years, those trees were already as tall as my house and created a beautifully dappled shady area on the south side where I needed it the most in the summer. In Ohio, I don't think you will have the problem that those in the South have of them reseeding all over the place. They are listed on the invasive list in the South. I have very few that come up here, but the ones that do come up are easy to pull. You see them around, but not a nuisance here in Oklahoma. We love them! They would be a beautiful addition to your place. The pink fluffy flowers are gorgeous and smell so fragrant in May and early June. The pinnate leaves have a very Tropical look. In fact, I used to set out all my hothouse Tropicals under them thru the summer every year. It was just the right amount of sunshine and shade for them. I love the way the leaves bounce and flutter in the slightest of breeze. Hummingbirds and honey bees love the flowers too. I think they are one of those kinds of trees that you either love or hate. The leaves do fall to the ground in the late summer/early fall, but they decompose very quickly with rain or waterings the soil is very fertile where they fall. The Mimosa is a Legume. The seed pods are easy enough to rake up. I don't mind at all. In fact, I usually just run over the leaves and seed pods with the lawnmower and turn it all back into soil lickety split! ~Annie Here is a link that might be useful: Silky Mimosa Tree

I have seen these Albizias around in lawn situations for many years here in Las Vegas. I think it is so dry here that there invasive qualities are not noticed unless somone keeps a wet area - hopefully not as we are in a drought! It is a very tropical looking tree with pretty flowers. That said it is not a desert tree and I don't believe it is on any current list of trees recommended for the area. For one thing, although it hasn't proved itself an invasive pest here yet who knows but what they may find some at Lake mead as happened with the salt cedar and green fountain grass. Also it doesn't like low water use conditions which can really slow its growth and make it yellow. It is also known for being weak wooded and messy and we do get some strong winds. There are so many other great trees to grow, the mesquites, palo Verdes, desert willows, pithecellobiums, acacias that love it here and are low water use and every bit as beautiful that I would never recommend the silk tree for here. Maria

Well, my thread here and some patience have paid off. The Native Black Locust to SE Michigan (pseudo acacia) is indeed the Black Locust that is now used in Eastern Europe. After a gorgeous Spring here in Michigan, the Black Locusts bloomed in the middle 2 weeks of May and had large clustered white pendulous clumping blooms that were quite showy and very prevelant. I cannot believe that I have never noticed those blossoms in earlier years; how could I have not seen their maginificent glory? I think this thread is dead and solved. The Acacia Tree of Hungary was actually brought over from Michigan in the 1850's and now serves as a prominent and national tree in Hungary. I think that because our climate in SE Michigan has considerable more heating degree days, that the blooms here are earlier than what would be experienced in Hungary. I know that they have slightly milder winters, but their summers do not get the heat and humidity of Michigan, nor do their average yearly temperatures measure up to those in Michigan. However, it is satisfying to know that Michigan; which has more hardwood species than all of Europe; was able to help re-establish some woodlands in Hungary and is now so revered by the Eastern European nation.