Stephen H.
Brown, Horticulture Agent
Kim Cooprider, Master Gardener
Lee County Extension, Fort Myers, Florida
(239) 533-7513 brownsh@ufl.edu
TY http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/GardenHome.shtml
Mimosa strigillosa Family: Fabaceae
Mim-MOH-suh strig-ill-OH-sa
Mimosa; powderpuff; sunshine mimosa; sensitive plant
Mimosa
Synonyms (Discarded Names): None found
Origin: Florida, Texas and northern Mexico
USDA Zone: 8B-11 (leaf damage at 15°F)
Growth Rate: Fast
Flowering Months: Spring through summer
Leaf Persistence: Evergreen
Salt Tolerance: Moderate
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil: Moist; dry once established
Nutritional Requirements: Low
Potential Pests: None serious
Typical Dimensions: Spreading; up to 1 foot high
Propagation: Rooted cuttings; seeds
Human hazards: None
Uses: A mat-forming groundcover that withstands
foot traffic and mowing; larval food source for the
little sulphur butterfly.
A curbside display of mimosa.
Long peduncle supports the A portion of this front yard is taken up by mimosa
inflorescence.
Natural Geographic Distribution
Mimosa strigillosa is commonly called powderpuff, for the shape of its showy flowers. It is also referred
to as mimosa, sunshine mimosa and sensitive plant. Mimosa has been vouchered by The Atlas of Florida
vascular Plants from Leon County in the north to Miami-Dade County to the south. However, no sample
has been collected and vouchered for Collier, Palm Beach, Broward and Monroe Counties. It is assumed
that the species can also be found in those southern counties. Mimosa is absent from Alabama and the
western Florida panhandle. It often occurs in disturbed areas, along roadsides and at the edge of pine
flatwoods with well-drained, sandy soils. It is well adapted to growing in full sun to high pine shade.
Ecological Function
Mimosa strigillosa is a legume whose roots can produce nodules (small knots) in association with
nitrogen fixing bacteria, thus adding nitrogen to the soil. The plant’s rapid spread, dense, mat-like habit
and deep root system make it a good plant for erosion control. Mimosa is a larval food source for the
little sulphur butterfly (Pyrisitia lisa), which feed on the foliage.
Morphology
Mimosa is a thornless, mat-forming, perennial plant usually growing 3 to 4 inches tall. It spreads by
rhizomes. Leaves are alternate, bipinnate, with 3 to 6 pairs of opposite pinnate, and as many as 21 pairs
of small leaflets. The leaves are larger in partial shade, up to 11 inches long and 4 inches wide and
smaller in full sun, commonly 3.5 inches long and 2 inches wide. The leaflets are remarkably sensitive
to touch, folding up within one or two seconds after being disturbed. Thus, the name sensitive plant. The
showy, pinkish, globose to shortly cylindric inflorescence are present from spring through summer.
Situated on long slender peduncle, they are about one inch long. They are comprised of many florets
each having fused petals and 10 or fewer free pink stamens. Every stamen is tipped with a golden
colored pollen. Many of these inflorescence give way to small, flattened, oblong pods with minute
bristles. Mature pods are brown and they open to expel seeds.
It spreads by criss-crossing, fast growing rhizomes. The bipinnate leaf remains open when not disturbed.
The plant has a dense, mat-like habit. The leaf quickly closes when touched.
The developing inflorescence. A fully formed inflorescence. The inflorescence is made up of
many florets with 10 or fewer free
pink colored stamens.
One or more flat seed pods with minute bristles A seed squeezed from the pod.
are sometimes produced from the inflorescence.
Growth Habit
Mimosa spread by rhizomes that produce long tap roots at the nodes. It grows in most well-drained soil
and is highly drought tolerant once established, making it also suitable for dry, sandy areas. Mimosa is
perennial, but top growth will die back in north Florida in the winter. Dieback becomes less severe from
north to south, and is negligible or absent in south Florida. Plantings that do not die in winter might
become somewhat thin and yellow. Even in south Florida, it usually becomes sparse during the months
of winter. Mimosa is difficult to control in restricted areas and is best grown with definite boundaries,
such as pavement or sidewalks, where it can be more easily edged.
Reproduction
Seeds have a hard seedcoat and need to be scarified to allow quick germination. Unscarified seeds can
take up to one year to germinate. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in late summer or early fall for flowers the
following summer. Irrigate seedlings for two to four weeks to prevent soil from drying out. Plantings
can also be established from rooted sprigs.
Planting and Maintenance Guidelines
Carefully select the area for planting. Well established plants may be difficult to eradicate because of the
mimosa deep growing roots. They may be planted any time of year, but will grow and spread more
rapidly in summer months than in winter months. Mimosa grow best in full sun but will tolerate some
shade. Mimosa can be planted in bare ground or a herbicide can be used to completely kill grass and
other vegetations. If the latter is done, do not remove the dead sod or vegetations or disturb the soil.
Among the dead sod, or on bare ground, plant small mimosa plants about 2 to 4 feet apart depending upon
how quickly you want the groundcover to develop. As few as four or five pots of mimosa planted in the land-
scape can cover 200 to 300 square feet in less than a full growing season. In bare spots, apply about 3 inches
of coarse mulch to suppress weed growth. Water to establish. A light application of fertilizer beneath the
mulch and extra water can help to jump start this plant to stay ahead of weed growth. Stems take root as they
grow along the ground, overlapping one another to form a dense mat. Once established, it is a very drought
tolerant and is able to withstand foot traffic and mowing, if necessary. Mimosa can also be interplanted with
lawn grass. Grasses will grow through it and can be mowed without affecting the usually lower growing
mimosa.
The roots of mimosa has a symbiotic relationship with a nitrogen fixing bacteria in the soil that may negate or
reduce the need for fertilizer applications. The bacteria form nodules on the roots of the plant. Roots are likely
to form nodules fastest where plants already exist or previously existed because the nitrogen fixing bacteria
might already be in the soil. Mimosa may become yellowish if it does not nodulate, a process that might take a
year or two. Plantings can be fertilized to mitigate yellowing, but this will delay or prevent nodulation.
However, fertilization appears to stimulate flowering. Use a low rate of controlled-release fertilizer that will
last throughout the summer. Fertilizers should contain no or low amounts of phosphorus unless results of a soil
test show that phosphorus is deficient in your soil.
Despite its rapidly spreading nature mimosa is not overly competitive. Aggressive weeds will out compete it.
A weed management program is necessary to maintain a uniform look. A grass herbicide such as Fusilate or
Plateau can be used prior to full vegetative cover. Personal communication from a landscaper indicates that
Roundup at half-strength can help control weeds. On the latter, several small areas should be used for testing
prior to application.
First day of planting mimosa groundcover. One gallon Mimosa groundcover 6 months later.
plants were used, with a 2 to 3 inch layer of coarse
mulch covering the bare ground.
References
Biophilia Nature Center, Native Nursery & Bookstore. http://www.biophilia.net/, accessed 11 Feb. 2010.
Norcini, Jeffrey and Aldrich, James. Native Wildflowers: Mimosa strigillosa. University of Florida,
Gainesville, Florida. ENH 1075/EP343. 2009. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep343
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information
and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual
orientation, martial status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University
of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. 8/2010
