Albizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate'PBR

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silk tree 'Summer Chocolate'

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silk tree 'Summer Chocolate' RHS

Synonyms

Albizia 'Summer Chocolate'
Albizia rosea 'Summer Chocolate'
Albizia julibrissin Leonidas

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Shrubs Trees
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A large shrub or small tree with a domed crown when mature. Leaves are fern-like, pinkish-bronze or purple and composed of leaflets. Terminal clusters of spherical pinkish or yellow-green flowerheads can be borne in summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
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
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold winds. Can survive low temperatures if growth has been sufficiently ripened in summer. May suffer foliage damage and stem dieback in harsh winters in cold or northern gardens so best for southern counties or London gardens

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Coastal
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden

Pruning

Pruning group 1, or pruning group 13 if wall-trained

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to verticillium wilt and honey fungus