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Kalkora Mimosa

Albizia kalkora

Flower
Foliage
Kalkora Mimosa

The lesser-known cousin of the silk tree, Kalkora Mimosa offers the same graceful compound foliage and powder-puff blooms but in cream and gold rather than pink.

Native to northeastern India and only sparsely cultivated in the United States, Kalkora Mimosa is a shrub or small tree typically reaching 8 to 25 feet, though it can climb to 60 feet in ideal conditions. Its crown spreads gracefully for shade, and the compound leaves fold closed each evening in the same sensitive fashion as its relative. In May and June, white to yellowish powder-puff flowers appear, followed by flattened seed pods containing four to twelve seeds. Plant in full sun to partial shade in average, well-drained soil; prune only in late winter if shaping is necessary.

A naturalized population exists in Durham, North Carolina, placing this tree closer to home than most gardeners realize. Like the better-known silk tree, Kalkora Mimosa self-seeds readily and has documented capacity to hybridize with Albizia julibrissin, raising legitimate invasive concerns in the Southeast. Native tree alternatives are worth serious consideration before planting either species. That said, for gardeners in zones 7 to 8 seeking a distinctive small flowering tree, this one draws the eye with its feathery texture and warm-toned blooms.

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Zone7 - 8
TypeShrub
FoliageDeciduous
GrowthFast
Height8 - 25 ft
Spread60 ft
BloomSpring
MaintenanceHigh
SunFull sun
SoilLoam (silt)
DrainageGood drainage
FormSpreading
TextureMedium
PropagationSeed
FamilyFabaceae
AttractsBees
Resistant toHeat
Palettes