Mimosa: a plant for the whole year
Contrary to what you might think, mimosa is not a plant of our area, but comes from very far away, directly from Australia and in particular from the island of Tasmania.
It arrived in Europe only in the 19th century and today it grows spontaneously and luxuriantly in us too, especially along the Ligurian Riviera and in Tuscany, but also on the shores of the northern lakes.
In all areas with a temperate climate and characterized by fresh and well-drained soils, mimosa has the opportunity to grow and bloom without particular problems, despite being a fairly delicate plant that cannot tolerate cold climates.
In our country the mimosa looks like a tree of not excessive size, which rarely exceeds 8-10 meters in height. The growth potential of this plant is very different in its continent of origin, where mimosa trees up to thirty meters high can be found.
See also
Mimosa: the identikit
Mimosa is a plant belonging to the Mimosaceae family (Fabaceae) and its scientific name is Acacia Dealbata.
Acacias are generally defined with the name of mimosa, although the term actually describes plants belonging to the genus Mimosa. The best known species are the winter mimosa (Acacia Dealbata) and the 4 seasons mimosa (Mimosa retinoides).
Fast growing (from 50 cm to 1m per year), mimosa plants require direct sun exposure and neutral to slightly acidic soil. The highly fragrant yellow flowers bloom between December and March for Acacia dealbata. and throughout the year for the mimosa of the 4 seasons, with a denser period from May to September.
Mimosa: how to grow and care for it
If placed in ideal climatic and soil conditions, mimosa does not require special attention or skills. To grow new mimosa seedlings at home, simply take the seeds contained in the pods and wrap them in well-moistened cotton balls, keeping everything warm for at least two or three days in order to stimulate germination. Subsequently it is possible to transfer the seeds in a pot containing half soil and half sand; germination usually occurs within two to three weeks.
Remember that the mimosa loves the sun and fears the wind and excessively rigid temperatures, and do not abound too much with watering, indeed suspend them in winter, while in the warm months do not exceed 2 times a month.
Mimosa symbol of women's day
Since the 1950s in Italy, on the initiative of the communist parliamentarian Teresa Mattei, the flowering branch of mimosa has been offered to women on 8 March for International Women's Day. The name “mimosa” is also used for the homonymous cake which is used to prepare for March 8th.
But why was mimosa chosen? Firstly because it blooms precisely in the period in which the celebration falls, secondly because it is a rather simple flower to find and cheap and finally also because, despite its delicate appearance, mimosa is a rather strong and resistant plant, concepts that they were well married to the idea that one wanted to give of women.
Every year, in our country, over 15 million bunches of mimosas are given away on this occasion: this tradition has now become a real business and has unfortunately lost, in many cases, the original meaning of the party.
- The advice: to preserve the bunches of mimosa that are given to you for a long time, it is essential to provide them with plenty of water, eliminating any leaves present at the base of the twigs. In the jar, add a few drops of lemon to the water - not excessively cold - to create the ideal pH conditions and place it near the window.
