Albizia julibrissin Ombrella ('Boubri'PBR)
silk tree [Ombrella]
A small deciduous tree or tall shrub with a broad, spreading crown that flowers profusely at a young age. The rich green, ferny mimosa-like leaves are composed of many small leaflets. Clusters of fluffy, cherry-pink fragrant flowers with long stamens open on the top of the crown in summer, followed by long, narrow, pale brown pods that can hang on into winter
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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green Yellow | Green Brown | ||
| Winter | Brown Bronze Black |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Spreading branched
- Genus
Albizia can be deciduous trees, shrubs or climbers, with attractive bipinnate leaves with tiny leaflets, and flowerheads composed of many small flowers with prominent stamens
- Name status
Trade
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in well-drained soil in full sun. May suffer foliage damage and stem dieback in harsh winters in cold gardens. Saplings should flower in three years.
Propagation
Root semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer. Propagate by seed: collect seeds from pea-like pods and soften their coats in very hot water, leave to cool for 24 hours and sow. After germination transplant into root trainers to avoid disturbing tap roots.
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Sub-tropical
- Mediterranean climate plants
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning
Minimal pruning required. Pruning group 1 or pruning group 13 if wall-trained. Prune wayward or crossing branches to maintain a healthy framework when dormant.
Pests
Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly if grown under glass.
Diseases
May be susceptible to verticillium wilt and honey fungus
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