Invasive Species Spotlight: Silk Tree

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Silky, bright, and oh so invasive!



Silk tree flowers and foliage
Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons


Take a nice stroll around any Hillsborough County neighborhood in the late spring and you’ll  see lots of silky, fragrant, pink flower puffs peeking over fences. Silk tree, also known as mimosa tree, has been a popular ornamental plant in Florida for decades. Native from parts of Iran east to China and Korea, this lovely, compound-leafed tree (scientific name Albizia julibrissin) is now found in many southern US states. 

In its native range, silk tree loves sunny, sandy uplands habitat, growing in dry and rocky soil. In Florida, its natural ability to survive in a wide range of soil conditions has made in highly invasive. After silk trees escaped cultivation decades ago, they began to grow prolifically in disturbed areas like roadsides and old pastures. Silk tree has become so common in natural areas that it’s now listed as a Category I invasive plant by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, or FLEPPC. 

Category I invasive plants are those that have not only spread quickly into natural areas, but have also caused damage to native Florida habitats by out-growing native plants and changing ecosystem functions. Silk tree and other invasive plants pose a huge threat to Florida’s native plants and animals, and removing invasive plants from our gardens and parks is a great way to help reduce the damage they cause. Even if you don’t live near a natural area, the silk tree in your yard could be a problem- the seeds of this tree are carried far and wide by birds, wind, and water, and young trees can sprout miles away from the parent tree.


Lightweight silk tree seeds can spread for miles!
Zeynel Cebeci, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons


If you have a silk tree in your yard, consider removing it and replacing it with a native or Florida-friendly alternative! Sweet Acacia, a native Florida tree, is a great pick- although it's thorny, its yellow flower puffs are a cheerful sight in the spring, and its fragrant blooms attract butterflies and other pollinators. 

To learn more about invasive plants in Florida, visit the University of Florida IFAS extension page on invasive and aquatic plants. To learn more about gardening with native and Florida-friendly plants, visit the IFAS Gardening Solutions web page.


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