Texas Gardening: Texas Native Plant Pictures by color ( Pink ), 1 by htop

htop wrote:
Sunshine Mimosa, Powderpuff, Herbaceous Sensitive Plant, Verguenza, Herbaceous Mimosa(Mimosa strigillosa), Mimosaceae Family, native, perennial, blooms from early spring through early fall

Usually growing 3 to 4 inches tall (can grow taller), this plant is a legume that fixes nitrogen in addition to functioning as a fast growing, mat-forming, evergreen groundcover and can even be substituted for lawn grass. I It spreads by rhizomes, can be mowed, usually has soft bristles (but no spines) and tolerates foot traffic. It grows in sun and light shade and adapts to a wide range of soil acidity levels as well as moisture levels.

Performing best in loamy or sandy soils, it can adapt to about any type of soil. It has excellent salt and drought tolerance and is a great xeriscape plant. Its tiny, fern-like leaves fold back when touched or when there is a strong vibration near them. Showy, globe-shaped (sometimes a little oblongish instead of a ball), reddish-pink to lavender-rose colored, 1 inch wide blooms are held straight up above the foliage.

In its natural habitats, it can be found in open areas in sandy woodlands, along stream or lake banks, mixed in with brush and along roadsides. It serves as a larval food source for the Little Sulphur, White-striped Longtail Skipper, Mimosa Yellow and Reakirt's Blue butterfly caterpillars. The foliage is browsed by white-tailed deer and cattle.

Note: I want to emphasize that this plant does not have thorns (has soft prickles) so do not confuse it with a young sensitive briar (Mimosa malacophylla) plant. You don't want to plant senstive briar in places you want to walk through. Ouch!

Distribution:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefip...

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1873/index.html

Was on the ground for this photo ...