Mimosa microphylla
littleleaf sensitive-briar
Overview
Mimosa microphylla is a sprawling, prickly perennial that trails along the ground or scrambles over low vegetation, with slender stems reaching 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m) and lined with small recurved prickles. The bipinnately compound leaves are divided into many tiny leaflets each about 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm) long, and they fold inward within seconds when touched or at night, a movement that gives the plant its sensitive-briar name. From late spring into summer it produces pink to rose spherical flower heads about 0.5 inch (12 mm) across, each a cluster of many thread-like stamens. The flowers are followed by narrow prickly seed pods 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long that split into segments at maturity. M. microphylla grows from a deep woody rootstock that lets it resprout after fire or mowing, and it grows in dry sandy soils of open pinelands, roadsides, and disturbed ground. The recurved prickles catch on skin and clothing, which limits its use near paths, and its trailing stems can spread into a tangled mat. It fixes nitrogen through root nodules, adding to soil fertility in the nutrient-poor sites where it grows.
Native Range
Mimosa microphylla is native to the southeastern United States, ranging from Virginia south to Florida and west to Texas. It grows in dry sandy soils of pine flatwoods, sandhills, and open disturbed sites.Suggested Uses
M. microphylla is used in native and pollinator plantings, sandy wildflower meadows, and erosion control on dry banks where its trailing stems knit loose soil. The touch-sensitive folding leaves make it a curiosity in children's and educational gardens. Its prickles make it unsuited to high-traffic borders.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'
Width/Spread3' - 4'
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from late spring through summer, roughly May to August. Each pink globe-shaped head opens over a few days, and a plant produces a succession of heads across the season. The flowers draw bees and other insects, and pollinated heads develop into clustered prickly pods by late summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Pink to roseFoliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight