Mimosa scabrella
Mimosa scabrella
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Native to the cool, subtropical plains of southeastern Brazil, the plant it is very robust and can grow in both warmer and drier areas. It is not recommended, however, for areas with mean annual temperatures higher than 23°c. It is found in areas where the mean annual rainfall ranges from 600 - 3,500mm and is spread through the year, though it is also able to tolerate dry periods of up to 4 months[1]. Requires a sunny position[2]. Succeeds in most soils and conditions[2]. Prefers a freely-draining soil, being intolerant of waterlogged, compacted or severely degraded soils[1]. Tolerant of strongly acid soils with a pH as low as 4.8, and also those soils with high aluminium content[1]. Grows best in a position sheltered from strong winds[1]. A fast-growing species, easily reaching a height of 3.5 metres within 2 years from seed[2].Fourteen month old trees up to 5 metres tall have been recorded; in 2 years they have reached 8 - 9 metres; and some 3 year old specimens have reached 15 metres[1]. Plantations have been harvested on rotations as short as 3 years, though fuelwood plantations in Brazil are more commonly planted at spacings of 2 x 2 or 3 x 3 m and harvested on 3 - 7 year rotations[1]. This species does not coppice well, though it can be pollarded or pruned effectively[1]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[3].
Propagation
Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and, unless sown as soon as it is ripe and still moist, may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Sow the seed in a partially shaded position in individual containers or in a nursery seedbed. A high germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 30 days[2]. When the nursery bed sown seedlings are 4 - 5cm tall, pot them up into individual containers. Seedlings grow very quickly and should be ready to plant out 3 - 4 months later[2]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Mimosa+scabrella>
Pollinators
Bees
References
- [1]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
- [2]Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition. — Lorenzi. H. · Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. · 2002 · ISBN 85-86714-17-8 ↩︎Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
- [3]Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy — United States Department of Agriculture · http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en ↩︎An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.