An original perennial subshrub with feathery leaves that fold at the slightest touch. The flowers are very delicate, reminiscent of small pompoms. The plant grows to a height of about 1 ft (30 cm).
Planting instructions: Prepare the mimosa seeds for sowing after the last spring frost. Rub the end of each seed with a nail file until a small, pale spot appears on the hull. Then soak the seeds in hot water for 24 hours before sowing. Fill individual 5-inch (15 cm) biodegradable pots with a lightly moistened mixture of half sand and half loam. Sow one seed in each pot at a 1-inch (3 cm) depth. Spread a 1/4-inch (0.5 cm) thick layer of sand over the soil. Set the pots outdoors against a south- or west-facing wall with full sun. Provide 75 F (25 C) bottom heat with a propagation mat if the weather is cool and light shade at midday if daytime temperatures rise above 90 F (30 C). Carefully monitor the moisture level of the soil. Water to a 2-inch (5 cm) depth whenever the top 1/2 inch (1 cm) of soil dries out. Avoid overwatering or letting the soil dry out completely, which will cause the mimosa seeds to fail. Watch for germination one to three weeks after sowing. Grow the seedlings under the same conditions as during germination until they reach 3 inches (8 cm) in height and produce several mature leaves. Transplant the mimosa into a permanent bed in autumn at least six weeks before the first frost.
