Beth, It looks like you may not have gotten a specific answer to your question about mimosa and fire. I assume that you have the mimosa that is the attractive but often invasive shrub or small tree (Albizia julibrissin). It has been widely planted and volunteers over a wide area in the eastern US so I was please to read that you might consider removing your plant and are interested in having an all-native yard.
Although this native of Asia has very thin bark, once established it is relatively resistant to fire. If the main woody stem is not large, it may be killed back to the root stock but will vigorously re-sprout. If you are willing to use chemicals to remove your tree/shrub, then cut the main truck and apply an herbicide specific for woody plants to the exposed stump. Even with this treatment, you will likely need to keep an eye on the root stock for 1-2 years and re-apply herbicide as needed. If you would rather not use chemicals, then you can cut the stem and return frequently to cut/remove new sprouts. Eventually you can starve the roots but it takes time and effort. If you have an individual that has produced seeds in the past you will likely have a “bank” of seeds in the soil and so when any open area is created, you may get a patch of mimosa seedlings. In the Smokies and other native forest areas that are burned with prescribed fire, a burn will trigger large amounts of germination and increase the number of mimosas on a site. Seedlings are sensitive to fire and so to decrease their numbers a series of very frequent fires can be applied. In a yard setting, you will find them easy to pull. Just be vigilant for a few years until the soil seed bank is depleted. Sharon >>> Beth Koebel <[email protected]> 12/03/09 7:18 AM >>> Barry, I think that mimsoas are very beautiful. It is that I am trying to have nothing but native plants in my yard. Beth Sent from my iPhone On Dec 3, 2009, at 5:50, Barry Caselli <[email protected]> wrote: Good question. They seem to be all over South Jersey, but only in areas where people live. At the last house on our side of the road, the people had a big one in their front yard, but had it removed. I don't know why. It was perfectly healthy, and they don't do anything different with the yard. It wasn't in the way or anything. Barry --- On Sat, 11/28/09, Beth <[email protected]> wrote: From: Beth <[email protected]> Subject: [ENTS] Mimosa and fire To: "ENTSTrees" <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, November 28, 2009, 10:09 AM ENTS does anyone if mimosas are fire tolerent? Beth -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected]
