How to Get Mimosa Tree Seeds to Sprout

Mimosa's bright pink flowers attract wildlife.

The mimosa tree's tiny deciduous leaves and delicate pink flowers make it ideal for landscaping in large yards. Butterflies and hummingbirds enjoy the blossoms of the mimosa, also sometimes called the silk tree. The mimosa tree thrives in warm weather, and in most areas, a tree will drop thousands of seeds that germinate without any help. If you live in a cooler area, or want to start a mimosa tree early, you can germinate mimosa seeds in potting soil in your home.

Things You'll Need

• Seed tray, any size
• Potting mix
• Heat mat

Instructions

1. Fill a seed tray with potting mix or seed-starting mix. Use a mix with adequate drainage, or the mimosa seeds will not germinate.

2. Soak the soil thoroughly. Place the tray in a warm area for about two hours until the soil is damp, but not soggy.

3. Drop mimosa seeds on the soil. Do not bury them completely. Cover the seeds very lightly with soil.

4. Put a heat mat in a dark room. Turn the heat to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the seed tray on the heat mat. If you must turn on the lights in the room, put a covering over the tray to prevent light from shining on it.

5. Wait for the seeds to germinate. This takes between one week and three months. As soon as the seeds germinate, set the heat mat and seed tray in indirect sunlight. Do not put the tray in a sunny window.

6. Transplant mimosa seedlings to their own pots when each has three true leaves. Keep the pots on the mat, but reduce the temperature a few degrees every day. In two weeks, the seedlings are ready to go into a larger container or your garden outside.

Tips & Warnings

• Mimosa trees do best in USDA hardiness zones 6B through 9B.

• Mimosa can be invasive if not confined to a container.

References

• Gardenologist: How to Germinate Mimosa Seeds
• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Albizia julibrissin 'Alba': 'Alba' Mimosa Tree