Silktree Albizia julibrissin DurazziniNon-native  -  Invasive    Synonyms: Mimosa, Persian Silk Tree, Silk Tree.
Kingdom Plantae   >   Division Tracheophyta   >   Class Magnoliopsida   >   Order Fabales   >   Family Fabaceae   >   Genus Albizia   

Status:

Silktree is an invasive species of small tree that has spread across much of the United States since its introduction as an ornamental in 1745. "Silktree is a strong competitor in open areas or forest edges due to its ability to grow in various soil types, ability to produce large amounts of seed, and its ability to resprout when cut back or damaged. Silktree reduces sunlight and nutrients available to desired species because of the denseness of the stand. An opportunist, Silktree will take advantage of disturbed areas, either spreading by seed or germinating in contaminated soil. Silktree is often seen along roadsides and open vacant lots in urban/suburban areas and can become a problem along banks of waterways, where its seeds are easily transported in water (University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants) ." Silktree is native to Asia from Iran through Japan.

Relationships:

Host plant for the introduced moth species Dinumma deponens.

Host plant for the leaf beetle Bruchidius terrenus.

There are 421 records in the project database.

View at Maryland Plant Atlas

Search Flora of North America

Search Mid-Atlantic Herbaria Consortium

Search Norton-Brown Herbarium

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]
GA AL WA FR CL MO HO BA BC HA CE PG AA CV CH SM KE QA CN TA DO WI SO WO 
Silktree in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/22/2014). Photo by Kimberly Booth. (MBP list)

Silktree blooming in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/20/2015). Photo by Kimberly Booth. (MBP list)

Silktree blooming in Carroll Co., Maryland (7/5/2015). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Silktree in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/15/2020). (c) casualhunt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by casualhunt via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Silktree blooming in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/29/2014). Photo by David Illig. (MBP list)

Silktree in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/26/2012). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Silktree in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/30/2020). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Hans Holbrook. (MBP list)

Silktree in Howard Co., Maryland (6/16/2010). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Silktree blooming in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/27/2014). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Silktree in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/16/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Silktree seed pods in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/29/2015). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Silktree in Harford Co., Maryland (10/16/2016). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

Silktree seed pods in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (9/16/2017). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Silktree in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/15/2019). Photo by Jane Hill. (MBP list)

A massive Silktree trunk in Calvert Co., Maryland (3/5/2016). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Silktree in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/29/2019). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Silktree in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/10/2017). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Silktree in Caroline Co., Maryland (6/21/2019). (c) Wayne Longbottom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

MBP marks as "Invasive" any taxon listed in the Maryland Invasive Species Council (MISC) list of Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland. You can read their criteria and review the lists here: https://mdinvasives.org/species-of-concern/.