11 Facts about Ecuador’s Pink Fluffy Flower Tree (Mimosa)
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The Pink Silk (Albizia julibrissin) tree is beautiful! Its blossoms look more like feathers than flowers. The first time I saw this flowering tree I could hardly believe my eyes. It looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book.
Read more about living in Ecuador
11 Interesting Facts About the Pink Silk Tree
- They grow from 5 to 12 meters tall
- The stamens are pink, red, yellow, or white and look like strands of silk
- They are subtropical/tropical fast-growing trees/shrubs
- The leaves close and bow downwards during the night and when it’s raining
- They are also known as the sleeping tree
- The stamens are much longer than the petals
- They attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
- Are often used as an ornamental plant in parks
- Are known (incorrectly) as the mimosa tree
- The seeds grow in pods and are used as food for livestock
- The generic name Albizia julibrissin honors an Italian nobleman (Filippo degli Albizzi) who introduced this tree/shrub to Europe in the 18th century
The Pink Fluffy Flower Tree
The blossoms look like fluffy little birds sitting among the branches.
Let’s get a closer look. Have you seen a flower anything like this?
What interesting flowers have you seen during your travels? Please share your comments with us.
Does it blossom all year? If not when does it blossom?
It doesn’t blossom all year. These photos were taken in August – the plant was in bloom between July and October (at least). It would depend on what part of Ecuador you see the plant – and what climate zone it’s in.
Thanks for the enlightened history and close up pictures.
I enjoy reading your reports.
I have one in y back yard. they are considered junk trees here because they drop seed pods everywhere and grow easily and can take over. I love mine though
we do call it a Mimosa tree here in Central Texas
5. They are also known as the sleeping tree
Because if you grind up the seeds which grow in the pods – and smoke it – you’ll drop off into comfortable sleep.
WARNING: Do Not Drive Vehicles, Operate Machinery or Perform Surgery after smoking a “Pinkie”.
Why would anybody smoke a “Pinkie”, are they stupid or what?
Interesting that you say the “pink silk tree is known (incorrectly) as the mimosa tree.” When I enter the Latin name of the tree in a search, I get many links all of which say it is the same….
The name mimosa is “incorrect” in the sense that it no longer belongs to the mimosa genus. As a common name it is fine, but the genus mimosa contains 400 species of herbs and shrubs. So the term is ambiguous.
The names “pink silk tree” and “Persian silk tree” more accurately describe the tree. Albizia julibrissin belongs to the Albizia genus.