Mimosa tree with yellow flowers: planting, cultivation, care

The The mimosa is a tree native to Australia which was introduced to the Côte d’Azur around 1850. It grows fast (between 30 and 60 cm / year) and its winter flowering is very beautiful and fragrant! How to grow mimosa in your garden? Here are some gardening tips to grow the beautiful Mediterranean plant with yellow pompoms.

Where to plant mimosa?

Is mimosa afraid of frost? There are some changes from one species to another: species with leaves cut into leaflets are usually more resistant to cold than species with whole leaves (called phyllodes). However, a Mediterranean plant, mimosa remains semi-hardy and does not survive when temperatures drop below -8°C to -10°C. So, the planting mimosa in the ground can only be done in the south of France or the Atlantic coast. In other regions of France, mimosa will grow in pots, to protect from the first cold periods. Mimosa will therefore thrive in the sun (at least 3 hours of sun per day), sheltered from cold winds in dry, well-drained soil.

If your soil is calcareous, be sure to choose the right mimosa. Most mimosas do not tolerate calcareous soils, except for Acacia retinodes. This is why the latter serves as the rootstock for many mimosas grown in our gardens. These grafted mimosas support calcareous soils. On the other hand, they are more sensitive to cold and should be well protected in winter.

Finally, plan for enough space around the tree when planting because your mimosa will grow quickly. Mimosa is very well isolated as in a hedge or a screen (it has great hiding power).

When to plant mimosa?

If you buy a blooming mimosa, planting should be done in early spring, in March-April. If the mimosa does not bloom, you can continue in early autumn, in September-October.

How to preserve a young mimosa? During the first summer, be sure to water your mimosa regularly. But quickly, mimosa will become resistant to drought.

After flowering, you can cut the mimosa : a good way to maintain a dense and rounded port but also to limit wind resistance. Cut after a leaf or, when the wood is larger, after a shoot. You can easily cut a third of the mimosa volume. It is also better to remove suckers that weaken the tree.

Remember that in the soil, mimosa does not need fertilizer because it grows quickly.

If the cold comes, you’ll need to protect your mimosa: the horns must be protected by a veil in winter (be careful not to attach the leaves) and the stump (up to the point of grafting) with mulch. This way, if your mimosa suffers from the cold, it can grow again in the spring above the point of grafting.

How about potted mimosas?

From March to September, you can add a special fertilizer for flowering plants.

Finally, once it starts to cool down, leave your potted mimosa in a well-lit, unheated room. If the winter is mild and your plant is protected from the wind, you can leave it outside with a winter veil over the branches.

Remember that it will take repot your mimosa every two years generally because it is a fast growing plant.

Which mimosa to choose?

There are many and very good types of mimosa. Among the best known are:

• Acacia dealbata or winter mimosa: it is also called mimosa by florists and is certainly the most cultivated mimosa. It is semi-hardy and well resistant to drought. Winter mimosa can measure up to 20 meters tall. It blooms between December and March.
• Acacia retinodes or mimosa of the four seasons: sometimes called resinous mimosa, this tree blooms, as its name suggests, several times a year. It can reach 3 to 6 meters in height. It is not very hardy but tolerates calcareous soils and drought well.

In winter, the mimosa bouquet particularly popular in the interior. Its presence brightens the house but very quickly the mimosa loses its shine… How to keep the fun and keep your mimosa bouquet as long as possible?

• Bevel the stems of your mimosa (about 5 cm).
• Break the ends of the stems with a hammer.
• Place your bouquet in slightly sweetened warm water.
• Install your bouquet in a room no higher than 20°C.
• If it’s not freezing, place your bouquet outside at night.
• Add water to your vase regularly because mimosa is a flower that consumes a lot of water.