Mimosa microphylla

Mimosa can be confused with native bipinnately compound legumes, especially in the smaller seedlings stages.

Littleleaf Sensitive Brier, Mimosa microphylla Dry. [ Shrankia microphylla (Dry.) J.F. Macbr.], is a weakly arching perennial vine with prickly stems.

Chamaecrista fasciculata

Mimosa can be confused with native bipinnately compound legumes, especially in the smaller seedlings stages.

Partridge Pea, Chamaecrista fasciculata (Michx.) Greene Cassia fasciculata Michx.], is a non-woody, evenly pinnate annual herb as is wild sensitive plant, Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench Cassia nictitans L.].

Desmanthus illinoensis

Mimosa can be confused with native bipinnately compound legumes, especially in the smaller seedlings stages.

Prairie Mimosa or Prairie Bundle Flower, Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) MacMill.ex B.L.Robins.&Fern., very similar in appearance to the non-native mimosa tree, is a perennial herb 3 to 6 feet tall with white, powder-puff flowers.

Landscape Alternatives

These native plants make great substitutes for mimosa in the landscape.

Redbud, Cercis canadensis, grows quickly and is a small understory tree with an umbrella-shaped canopy. It produces masses of showy pink flowers in spring, long, flat seedpods, and yellow fall color. It is drought tolerant and adaptable to poorer conditions. Attracts bees and butterflies.

Fringe Tree, Chionanthus virginicus, is a small tree or large shrub that features showy flowers with strappy white petals and a honey fragrance. Female trees bear blue fruit in summer that attract birds.

Washington Hawthorn, Crataegus phaenopyrum, is a small tree with showy white flowers in spring, an ample crop of red fruit fall into winter, and an umbrella shape. Attracts bees and birds.

Flowering Dogwood, Cornus florida ‘Appalachian Spring,’ is an anthracnose-resistant cultivated variety of a popular native understory tree with showy spring flowers, red fall fruit, and great fall foliage color. Attracts bees, birds, and butterflies.

Indigo Bush, Leadplant, Amorpha fruticosa, is a large shrub with compound foliage and showy flowers that grows well in poor soil. Attracts bees, birds, and butterflies.

Rose-acacia Locust, Robinia hispida, is a small shrubby plant with compound foliage and pink flower clusters that grows well in poor soil. Attracts bees and butterflies.