Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
Photo by: Carolyn Moore
Photo by: Ginny Stibolt, Ixia Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

sunshine mimosa, powderpuff

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Mimosa strigillosa

Family:

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

0.25-0.5 ft tall by to 100 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

pink, rose

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Evergreen but tends to appear somewhat sparse and inconspicuous from late fall to early spring. Blooms spring to fall.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Grow as a groundcover. Can be used as a turf replacement and can be mowed. Not good for heavy traffic. Tends not to have good cover during late fall through early spring.

Considerations:

Like most turf replacements, this plant wants to spread. If you don't want that, keep it hemmed in by using a barrier or by trimming.

Availability:

Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Seed

Propagation:

Seed or cuttings. Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

circum neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars

Host plant for the  little sulphur ( Eurema lisa )  butterfly. ( Fl Wildflower Foundation )





Pollinated mainly by bees

Native Habitats:

Open, disturbed areas. Typically fairly moist but tolerates dry soils after establishment.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Needs substantial water during establishment, then relatively drought tolerant.



Nodules on the roots of the plant, with the help of Rhizobium bacteria, fix nitrogen.