Albizia julibrissin 'Boubri' OMBRELLA® silk tree
size/type
small tree,small tree
usual height
2-6m
usual width
1-3m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
July-September
location
full sun
soil type
neutral to alkaline
soil moisture requirements
dry and sharply drained (xeriscape)
USDA zone (lowest)
7 (down to -23°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Mimosaceae plants are popular mainly in southern Europe as they are very drought tolerant. Even though they come from subtropical parts of the world we can also grow some of them in our climate.
Description of the plant:
Ombrella® belongs to the hardy group. It was a chance selection from France which was observed and cultivated, and later on patented under the name Boubri. It differs from the species by darker leaves and deeply coloured flowers.Exotic looking flowers are pinky-red, hairy spheres with yellowish centres, 3-5 cm large and with a sweet fragrance. Fern-like leaves are deep green, compound. They close for the night and re-open in the morning, just like mimosa when touched.
It is a medium-sized tree with irregular, flat or umbrella-shaped, spreading crown. It needs warm, neutral to alkaline, preferably poor or slightly fertile soil. Mulching is good for winter but in the summer it prefers direct sunlight onto the area above roots so it can collect as much warmth as possible for better flowering. Ombrella® is good for tree forms as it makes a firm, vertical trunk. Do not use fertilizers apart from those for profuse flowering only.
If the tree grows at its natural speed the branches will mature well and will not be damaged by frost. Its reliable hardiness is -20°C but can be extended by no fertilizing and growing in a protected location to about -25°C. Even if the branches are damaged by frost it readily regenerates from healthy, even older wood.
Watch out for symptoms of a very dangerous disease – mimosa wilt disease. Read this article to follow instructions in case you spot them and we strongly suggest you do the procedure as prevention on annual basis.
Last update 06-02-2008; 23-07-2023
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GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
