Family Fabaceae
Originating from Iran to China, Mayan.
- Feathery, dark red leaves form a broad, airy canopy.
- Scented pink-red and white powder puff flowers bloom in summer.
- Easy to grow in well-drained soil in full sun, can be pruned to any shape.
Silk ‘Evy’s Pride’ in Your Garden
Take one of the most exotic-looking trees we can grow in UK gardens, and add extra deep red to its leaves and flowers. Result: more show-stopping than any other Persian Silk Tree variety yet. Dark red and feathery foliage emerges with vivid purple-red tints, maturing to a deep, dusky red flushed out with green.
Borne on elegant, widespread branches, its canopy is lush yet airy. Picture a Norfolk courtyard framed by this spectacle. Its light, dappled foliage flutters in the slightest breeze. Remarkably hardy in southern and coastal UK, it reaches 6m high and 4m wide in 10–20 years.
Wispy pink-red powder puff flowers festoon the scented crown during summer. Their silky texture adds intricate detail to the feathery leaves. Happy in coastal areas, it’s ideal for Suffolk’s Mediterranean gravel gardens. It’s a drought tolerant choice for waterwise gardeners.
Care Tips for the Persian Silk Tree, or Mimosa
- Soil and Sun: Plant in well-drained soil; full sun maximizes foliage colour and ensures abundant blooms.
- Planting: Set in spring; soak roots before planting for best establishment. Provide support for one or two seasons.
- Watering: Water regularly in first year; tolerates dry spells once mature.
- Pruning: Shape in late winter; trim to desired size or form. Plants established for over 5 years can be cut back.
This fast-growing Mimosa’s canopy casts dappled shade, ideal for UK gardens. Its architectural form demands centre stage. Fast-growing, reliable and reassuringly drought-tolerant, ‘Evy’s Pride’ rewards UK growers.
Planting Ideas for Evy’s Pride Silk Tree
Rejoice in a rousing red riot. Enjoy the vivid colours of this variety alongside other glowing reds and feel the heat, even when it’s overcast. It’s easy to get carried away adding herbaceous plants; don’t forget evergreens to provide a lush backdrop during the Albizia’s winter absence.
For a tropical look, plant it with Musa ‘Bengal Tiger’ and Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’. Their massive leaves contrast and frame ‘Evy’s Pride’. In front, add Hedychium ‘Tara’, ‘Devon Cream’, and Canna ‘Russian Red’ with a pair of Nerium oleander Dark Pink for evergreen presence.
If you can stand the heat, turn up the dial for Mediterranean colour. The light cast by the Persian Silk Tree creates a range of shade effects. Add Nolina nelsonii and Nolina hibernica, for foreground impact, and Cordyline australis for an evergreen backdrop.
Hemerocallis ‘Frans Hals’, ‘Crimson Pirate’, and ‘Bonanza’ smoulder in part shade. Callistemons ‘Packers Selection’, citrinus ‘Splendens’, and ‘Pink Champagne’ sizzle in full sun around it. Plant Prunus laurocerasus ‘Bonaparte’, Magnolia ‘Alta’, and Griselinia ‘Green Horizon’ behind for an evergreen backdrop.
