This tree popped up voluntarily about 3 years ago. We thought it was a bush.....and even though the deer nibbled on it, we left it alone.
Well, look at it now.......first time blooming......wow.
Does anyone know what this is?
Can we....or our neighbors.....expect baby trees everywhere now from seeds?
It looks a lot like "Mimosa" flowers.
In Italy, on March 8th, it is "Woman day".
Every woman receives a mimosa bouquet, either from a man or from another woman.
The all town is full of mimosa bouquet and looks yellow at every corner (it is a big business for florists).
So I researched Mimosa on DG plant files and: ACACIA tree came up ... it looks a lot like yours ...
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1390/
Thank you.............sure looks the same!!!
I was going to suggest Huisache, same family, different variety. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/63234/
Some plants, because there are so many species that are very much alike, can be difficult to ID through a couple of photos. This is the case with many acacias. Acacia baileyana has gray-green leaves whereas Huisache's leaves are a light green but the color distinction could be very slight. There are hundreds of acacias so ID can be difficult. If this were California, I would agree that it might be A. baileyana, but given that Huisache is so common here in Central Texas and that right now it is in full bloom, my money would be on Huisache, but if you want to be sure, you have two very good sources of information right there in Austin: 1) A & M's AgriLife Urban services and 2) Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Take a sample to them.
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=12028
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plaug99.htm
http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/
http://www.wildflower.org/
I agree with Stephanie and Veronica,
After reading all the descriptions I'm inclined to believe it is a Sweet Acacia. And it is SWEET........the smell is heavenly. We are so glad we left this plant alone....it's just beautiful right now.
Thank you all so much. We have lived here in Texas for 7 years now and are still amazed at all the free plants that pop up every now and then. We have about 4 Crape Myrtle trees that were free as well. I'm starting to like the spring winds......so generous. Now if we only could talk to them about the weeds!!
Pam
Pam I would love to have some seeds from this. I would gladly send postage for them. It is beautiful :)
Be aware that Huisache, Sweet Acacia, is very invasive and is more difficult to get rid of than mesquite. Be sure to pull or dig out any new seedlings as soon as you identify them. Wait too long and you have a long tap root to dig out.
On the up side, this is a great addition to a bee garden.
99 - D-mail me your info.....the seeds come after all the blooms. Then remind me!!! This is important as we are hosting a wedding here in May and things can get hectic!!!
:-)
A sweet acacia broke my stone wall with its root system...tap root? So...not so sweet for me! ;=(
The one at my house would have to go a long way to even approach a wall of any kind......so I think we're OK.
Do you still have yours, Connie?
The only "bad" thing about that tree is that it's crowding out an oak tree.
Well, we didn't plant it........the Universe decided it would be happy there........and the oak tree seems just fine.
That's usually how those things work out. I grew up in San Antonio and Huisache trees grow everywhere there.
I go with Huisache...grew up calling them pom-pom trees. We have a mimosa that has larger fancy pink and white flowers.
@ Morganc...yes, it's still there! The darned thorns make it hard to even THINK of taking it out! ;-)
Oh, I would love to have up to three of these for the zeriscape I'm putting in this year. I'm putting it on my RU trade list WANTS.
Sybil, I'm not sure that Hiusaches will grow up here. I've never seen one in this part of the world. I see them all over the place in the San Antonio/Austin area though.
Oh, shoot. That figures, since I haven't seen them around here either. Thanks for the heads up.
It wouldn't hurt to try as it says 9a as the coldest and morganc is in 8b. Also they changed some of the zones so you might check that also. If you start them from seeds or trade for little starts you have nothing to lose. :)
You're right, 99, about nothing to lose, so I'll still be glad to get one in case someone brings it to the swap, but I figured it was this north Tx heat they couldn't take instead of the cold. The place I would put it is against a treeline, so it would only get morning sun. I assume that would help.
sybram - this volunteer tree is in 100% sun and seems just fine. We had a huge amount of days over 100 degrees last summer and it thrived. I don't think your sun will hurt it.
No I don't think it is the sun that hurts it but the freezing temps. The plant files say they live in zone 9-11 and we don't (well 2 years were exceptionally cold in 2009 and 2010) get and stay down in freezing temps. It work well covered in Christmas lights. I don't know but worth a try. I would also think you could keep it pruned back as small as you want. It never hurt my mimosa to prune the size I wanted it.
Does that tree also have thorns? I can't remember.
Mine certainly does.....long ones. We thought the deer would leave it alone because of the thorns.....but they nibble around them. But it has still done well.
That's what I thought. Thanks!
