About
Albizia chinensis is a sizable, deciduous tree that thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, typically exhibiting multiple stems and a broad, spreading canopy. Its foliage consists of finely divided, mimosa-like leaves made up of numerous small leaflets. The tree produces round, fluffy clusters of creamy white flowers in open panicles at its crown, which are succeeded by elongated, narrow pods that are pale brown and may persist through the winter months.
About the genus
Albizia includes a range of deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbing plants. They feature bipinnate foliage consisting of numerous small leaflets. The flower clusters are made up of many tiny flowers, notable for their prominent stamens.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Sand, Loam, Chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Trees
- Habit
- Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- Higher than 12 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- Sub-tropical, Coastal
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in well-drained soil in full sun. Alternating mild and cold spells may damage top-growth. Saplings should flower in three years.
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1 or pruning group 13 if wall-trained.
- Propagation
- Root semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer. Propagate by 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.
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to verticillium wilt and honey fungus