How to Grow Chocolate Mimosa Trees

by Jennifer Poindexter

I don’t know about you, but anything with chocolate in the name, I’m curious how I can grow it in my yard as quickly as possible. You’ve probably guessed that a chocolate mimosa tree doesn’t actually produce chocolate or mimosas. (We can dream, right?)

However, it is a splendid tree which could grow well in specific environments. If you’re curious if a chocolate mimosa tree would be a good fit for you or how to go about growing it, you’re in the right place.

Here’s everything you should know to grow a chocolate mimosa tree.

Growing Conditions for the Chocolate Mimosa Tree

A chocolate mimosa tree stands out in any crowd because of its leaves. They begin as a rich green and transform into a dark burgundy as the year moves forward. Finally, they turn into a dark “chocolate” brown.

These colors are important to the tree because it’s what allows it to handle higher temperatures and periods of drought.

It’s also important to note, before getting too far into growing the chocolate mimosa tree, that it isn’t like other varieties of mimosa trees.

Mimosa trees are known for being quite invasive. They produce seed pods which are easily cultivated and have allowed them to take over many areas where they grow.

Chocolate mimosas do produce seed pods, but they carry much fewer seeds. This lessens their risk of becoming invasive. To be on the safe side, do check with your cooperative extension agent prior to planting this tree.

Now that you have a better idea of what you’re getting into, let’s discuss what this plant needs in an appropriate grow space.

The chocolate mimosa tree needs room to grow. The tree can become as large as twenty feet tall and twenty feet wide.

It’s hardy in planting zones seven through ten and likes full sun. The soil should be well-draining but remain consistently wet until the roots become established.

By planting in the right zone, providing adequate sunlight and moisture, and giving the tree room to sprawl out, it should provide a proper foundation for growth.

How to Plant a Chocolate Mimosa Tree

Once you’ve picked out the perfect location for your chocolate mimosa tree, you’ve gotten the hard part out of the way.

From there, make sure you plant during the right time of the year. The chocolate mimosa tree should be planted in spring or fall while the temperatures are still cool.

This will allow the plant time to become established before warmer weather encourages growth and blooming in the plant.

Make sure to dig a hole large enough to accommodate the tree’s root system. It’s a good idea to amend the soil, where you’re planting, to encourage better drainage and to ensure the plant has all necessary nutrients available.

After the hole is dug and ready for the tree, fill a five-gallon bucket with water. Pour half the bucket in the hole, set the tree in the hole, and backfill it with the soil.

Once the soil is in place, press firmly around the base of the tree with your shoe. Be advised, your foot will get muddy.

Apply the rest of the water, gently, to the tree. Your chocolate mimosa is in the ground, and it’s now time to learn how to properly care for it as it becomes established in your yard.

Caring for a Chocolate Mimosa Tree

The chocolate mimosa tree is the fastest growing tree in the world. It’s known for growing as much as one inch per day!

It’s also known for producing gorgeous blooms during the summer months. This tree could be a fascinating addition to your yard.

Therefore, it’s important to learn how to care for it properly. Don’t be intimidated by these facts about the chocolate mimosa tree. Its care process is simple.

To begin, this tree needs water like every other living creature. You’ll only need to water while the root system is becoming established over the first few months.

After this time, the tree will become strong and drought tolerant. It’s a good idea to either use soaker hoses or the deep watering method when watering the tree.

Soaker hoses will keep the soil consistently moist. Deep watering will allow you to water longer, fewer days of the week. This ensures water reaches the roots and encourages a stronger root system to develop. This will help with the overall health of the tree.

Your chocolate mimosa tree shouldn’t need to be pruned. However, it will need to be fertilized one time during the spring using a balanced fertilizer.

These are the only steps you’ll need to provide adequate care to your chocolate mimosa tree. Hopefully, this will encourage a healthy tree you can enjoy for years.

Garden Pests and Diseases for the Chocolate Mimosa Tree

The chocolate mimosa tree is an easy tree to plant and care for. It also has few enemies in this world. In fact, it’s known for attracting the right things while deterring the wrong.

Most deer don’t enjoy the scent of the chocolate mimosa tree and stay away from it. Yet, the flowers of the mimosa tree attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. This is great for those who enjoy watching nature or want to invite pollinators to their yard for gardening purposes.

There are no pests which commonly attack the tree and there’s only one illness which regularly impacts it.

If you’re growing the chocolate mimosa tree, you must be aware of mimosa wilt. This disease is caused by a fungus. It turns the leaves yellow and causes them to wilt.

There’s no real treatment of this disease. You should remove any damaged wood the disease may cause. You can also take steps to prevent the disease from forming.

Ensure the plant receives an adequate amount of water in its early days. Though it’s drought tolerant, if there’s a prolonged season of drought, do step in and provide water to avoid stress on the plant.

You should also apply a balanced fertilizer, as mentioned above. This ensures the tree has necessary nutrients and is strong enough to fight off disease if necessary.

This is the only common threat to the chocolate mimosa tree. Be proactive in preventing it, so you won’t have any hiccups while growing this tree.

Growing the chocolate mimosa tree isn’t an overly complicated process. You plant it as you would most other trees.

It does require the most basic of care, and there is one disease which poses a threat. Outside of this, the chocolate mimosa tree is relatively fuss-free and should be something you enjoy growing around your home.

Learn More About the Chocolate Mimosa Tree

https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/albjul/all.html

https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/albizia-julibrissin