Mimosa pudica, Mimosa strigillosa

It is a fun plant to grow. The leaves fold up when touched. If touched with a bit more force, the petioles will also bend at their pulvinis and the leaves droop. These movements are called seismonastic movements (reaction to physical shock). At night, the leaves will also fold and bend in movements known as nyctonastic movements (reaction to absence of light). The plant flowers in mid to late summer. The flowers are globe shaped, about 1" across. Mimosa pudica needs full sun to partial shade, with a rich moist soil. We use a soil mix consisting of 2 parts peat moss to 2 parts loam to 1 part sand or perlite. The soil should be kept evenly moist but not saturated. During the growing season, the plant are fertilized on a weekly basis with a balanced fertilizer diluted to 1/2 the strength recommended on the label. During the winter months, fertilize on a monthly basis. Winter temperatures should not fall below 65F; if they do get chilled, then the plant suffers with yellowing of leaves and stems. Propagation: Mimosa pudica is propagated from seed. Seed will germinate in 14 to 21 days at 70F.

Close related species - Mimosa strigillosa that is also used as a ground cover.

Similar plants:

• Acacia cavenia, Mimosa caven (Espino Cavan, Roman Cassie)
• Albizia lebbeck, Mimosa lebbeck (Womans tongue, Siris-tree, Rain tree, East Indian walnut, Kokko, Soros-tree, Raom tree)
• Dichrostachys cinerea, Cailliea glomerata, Dichrostachys glomerata, Dichrostachys nutans, Mimosa cinerea (West African Sickle Bush, Marabou Thorn, Aroma, Kalahari Christmas tree, Chinese lantern tree, Marabou-thorn, Princess Earrings)
• Enterolobium contortisiliquum, Mimosa contortisiliqua (Earpod Tree, Orelha-de-macaco)
• Leucaena leucocephala, Leucaena glauca, Mimosa leucocephala, Acacia leucocephala (Wild Tamarind, Lead Tree)
• Lysiloma latisiliquum, Acacia bahamensis, Acacia formosa, Acacia latisiliqua, Leucaena latisiliqua, Lysiloma bahamensis, Lysiloma latisiliqua, Mimosa latisiliqua (Bahamas Lysiloma, Candelon, False Tamarind, Wild Tamarind)
• Mimosa albida (Mimosa)
• Mimosa borealis (Fragrant Mimosa, Pink Mimosa)
• Mimosa dysocarpa (Velvet Pod Mimosa, Gatuno, Velvetpod Catclaw)
• Mimosa pigra (Giant Sensitive Tree)