How to Grow Albizia julibrissin Plants in your Garden

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Pink Silk Tree

Albizia julibrissin, also known as the Persian silk tree silk, Pink silk tree, and sometimes as the Mimosa tree. It is a deciduous tree native to Asia.

This tree is noted for its green feathery foliage and produces a burst of pink flowers.

Pink silk tree
Persian Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin) photograph by Jim, the Photographer.

Silk trees range from small to medium in height. Although they can grow to just 15 to 25 feet (4.5 to 7.5 m) tall, their arching tendencies do require a little bit of space to accommodate their umbrella-like width.

Garden enthusiasts love silk trees for their ornamental qualities, fragrant flowers, and ability to offer a shady patch during hot summer months.

Albizia julibrissin tree
Albizia julibrissin tree photograph by Andreas Rockstein; CC.

It is best to use silk trees as lawn accents and to plant them away from gathering spots, because shedding leaves, flowers, and pods can require significant clean-up.

Additionally, planting this tree away from cement patios or sidewalks is often advised to prevent spreading roots from causing disruption or damage.

Albizia julibrissin in bloom
Attractive Albizia julibrissin Persian Silk tree in bloom, image by Andreas Rockstein; CC.

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Persian Silk Tree

Persian silk trees are fast-growing plants easily grown in medium moisture, well-drained soils.

Persian silk trees are very resilient and can tolerate a wide range of soils, including ones that are acidic and slightly alkaline.

While flowers tend to bloom in full sunlight, these trees can also grow in light shade.

Albizia julibrissin grows best in moist conditions, but they also have the ability to tolerate short drought periods.

The best time to fertilize the tree is in the spring, applying compost or organic fertilizer before the leaves appear.

As far as maintenance goes, pruning dead branches is advised to help keep the tree healthy. Also be on the look out for any webworms that might appear.

Albizia julibrissin Growing and Care Guide

Scientific Name: Albizia julibrissin
Common Name: Pink silk tree
Growing Zone: USA: 6 to 9
Life Cycle / Plant Type: Tree, Shrub

Plant Details

Plant Height (Inches): 180 to 300
Plant Spread (Inches): 300 to 420
Time of Bloom: Early spring to Late summer
Flower Details: Pink
Leaf Foliage: Green, Deciduous
Fruit:
Growth Form: Bushy, Spreading or horizontal

Persian Silk Tree leaves and branches
Leaf feature of the Persian Silk Tree, photograph by Blondinrikard Fröberg; CC.

Ideal Growing Conditions

Best Light Conditions: Full sunlight
Rate of Growth: Quick
Suitable Soil Types: Acidic, Adaptable, Clay, Loamy, Neutral, Sandy, Slightly alkaline, Well drained
Soil Moisture: Moist

Caring Conditions

Care:
Level of Maintenance: High
Propagation: Root semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer. Seed: collect Seeds from pea-like pods and soften their coats in very hot water, leave to cool for 24 hours and sow. After germination transplant into root trainers to avoid disturbing tap roots
How to Prune: Requires little to no pruning. In some cases hard pruning can be disruptive.
Pests: Generally trouble free
Diseases: Wilt diseases such asVerticillium wilt

Further Information

Can Attract: Butterflies
Tolerant of: Deer, Drought
Best Garden Use:
Family: Fabaceae (pea)
Closely Related Species: Beans, peas, and other legumes.
Miscellaneous: Entices birdlife to the garden, Attractive foliage, Non-native to North America, Invasive, Fragrant flowers, Blooms are very showy
Genus Detail: Albizia
Further Reading and References: Here and Here

Persian Silk Tree flowers
Close up photograph of Persian Silk Tree flowers by Andreas Rockstein; CC.

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Albizia julibrissin. You may also enjoy the following growing guides: How to grow Mimosa pudica and Cercis siliquastrum.