Mimosa

Color/Appearance: Color varies from light brown to deeper golden or reddish brown. Sapwood is pale yellow and is demarcated from the heartwood. Color darkens with age.

Grain/Texture: Has a coarse, somewhat uneven texture with good natural luster.

Rot Resistance: Reported as non-durable to perishable.

Workability: No data available.

Odor: No characteristic odor.

Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, mimosa has been reported to cause respiratory irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Not typically harvested commercially for lumber. Pieces are occasionally available for sale form hobbyist or small custom sawmills. Prices should be in the mid to upper range for a domestic hardwood.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Common Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, crafts, and turned objects.

Comments: Not to be confused with the closely related genus predominantly made up of shrubs, also named Mimosa. The common name mimosa is also applied to a number of regional trees, particularly species of Acacia—which are also botanically related to the Albizia genus.

Mimosa has been planted as an ornamental tree in many locales. It tends to be a short-lived tree that’s considered an invasive species in some areas. It’s also called silktree, so named for its unique fibrous flowers resembling silk threads.