Can someone please help me. I just moved into a new home and I have an interesting tree growing in the back yard. It didn't start to bloom until it got hot out and not it is just beautiful. It has these really neat pink flowers that are really soft and kind of look like hair on a troll doll. I hope you know what I'm talking about :) There isn't much of a smell. I have never seen anything like it before and I would love to know what kind of tree it is. The flowers don't really have pedals. It really is kind of like pink hair. Do you have any ideas? I'm open for some pointers. Thanks. Amanda
Paul--I was thinking the same, but isn't Kansas pretty marginal zonewise? Also, don't the flowers come quite a bit later (these are only just leafing out here, for e.g.). I'm still thinking on this one, something like a witch hazel but flowering now? And in pink...interesting! Glen
Glen, its a stretch for the Albizzia I agree but I figured it fit the description. Any chance we can see a picture of the little treasure?
Yup, we really need a pic. If it is a pink fothergilla, we also need to get it into production, that would be a great plant! Glen
Sunset National Garden Book shows a section of Sunset Zone 10 in the southwest part of Kansas. So, theoretically, a silk tree could be grown in Kansas. Salina is not in the same section, however.
I would say its definately Albizzia julibrissin, Silk tree, or Mimosa as we call them here.They do fine here in Kansas, leaves pop out a bit later than native species, but they are hardy over all. I have one in my front yard--the only difference in description would be that the flowers do actually have quite a lovely smell to them once they mature a bit, summer evenings are nicely scented here with our tree and the two next door. Many people consider these trees a "pest" as they reproduce rapidly and can be invasive...look around your yard, you likely have volunteer seedlings in abundance! Our tree was a seedling that we transplanted 8 years ago and is now over 15 ft tall. Despite its reputation, I still love ours and hope you enjoy yours as well:-)
