Albizia chinensis

RHS Plant Profile

Chinese silk tree

Trees

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A large deciduous fast growing tropical or subtropical tree, often multi-stemmed with a flat spreading crown and delicate mimosa-like divided leaves composed of many tiny leaflets. Roundish fluffy creamy white powder-puff flowers are produced in wide open panicles at the top of the tree, followed by clusters of long, narrow, pale brown pods that can hang on into winter.

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Sand, Loam, Chalk

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Sand Loam Chalk

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral or Alkaline

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–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): H3

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: 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: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in full sun. Alternating mild and cold spells may damage top-growth. 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
Coastal
Conservatory and greenhouse

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