Mimosa dysocarpa

Common Names

Velvet Pod Mimosa, Velvet-Pod Mimosa, Velvetpod Mimosa, Gatuno

Summary

Native to southwestern North America, the plant is a drought-tolerant, deciduous shrub typically 3–4 ft tall and up to 6 ft wide, with multi-branched, spiny stems and bipinnate leaves that close when touched. Pink to magenta flowers occur in dense cylindrical plumes, followed by velvety, strongly coiled pods; habitat includes arroyos, washes, and brushy slopes at elevations around 3,500–6,500 ft.

Cultivation requires full sun to partial shade, low water needs, and well-drained soils, with adaptation to sandy, clay, loam, or rocky conditions. It is hardy to USDA zones 8–10 and frost hardy to −6°C; space plants about 2–3 ft apart and prune regularly to encourage more branches and flowers; propagation is by scarified seeds or semihardwood cuttings. Uses include ornamental or barrier plant, habitat for pollinators, and restoration plant, and it is deer resistant.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2 ft 4 in – 6 ft

Spread

4-6 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8a-10b

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Rocky, well-draining soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Neutral to basic

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies