About
Albizia julibrissin Chocolate Fountain ('Ncaj1') is a compact deciduous tree or sizable shrub featuring large, bipinnate leaves that start as a bronze-green and mature to a rich, deep purple. In summer, it produces fluffy flower clusters in a soft rose-pink, characterized by noticeable stamens. After flowering, flat, bean-shaped seed pods develop and persist into the winter months. This tree is well-suited for smaller landscapes or container gardening, making it a practical choice for limited spaces.
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
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs, Trees
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 4-8 metres
- Spread
- 4-8 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Patio and container plants
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in well-drained soil, preferably in full sun for best flower production. Alternating mild and cold spells may damage top-growth. Saplings should flower in three years. Drought-tolerant and thrives in high summer heat and humidity
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1 or pruning group 13 if wall-trained
- Propagation
- Propagate by rooting semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer or 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