Viewing comments posted by MinxFox

Growing up we had a mimosa in our backyard. It was very beautiful and they do have the shape of an African tree - you could just picture a leopard sleeping in it or a giraffe feeding from it. One person commented that mimosas make great climbing trees for kids. Unfortunately, I found that to be the opposite as either the sap from the plant or the bark itself caused an allergic reaction in me. As a kid I was outside a lot so my hands were probably dirty from climbing this tree, I rubbed my eyes, and woke up the next morning with my eyes sealed shut with crust. My Mom had to get a hot wet towel to rub over my eyes so that I could even get them open. That was the last time I climbed one of these trees, and now as an adult I have a small one that appeared by the driveway. I'm letting it stay because the tree is beautiful and the blooms are wonderful. I am just very careful to wash my hands and arms immediately after cutting a branch from it or touching it.

Don't let the tiny blooms fool you. The fragrance can be quite powerful, especially when the breeze carries the scent to you. It is a lovely sweet smell. Not sickeningly sweet; just a very good smell. My only regret is not planting mine closer to the house because this is a smell you will want near you! The plant looks rather plain so I definitely grow it for the smell and not for the looks, but I do like that it is evergreen. I wouldn't mind planting this down the fence row or really just putting it in random places all over to perfume the yard.

This plant popped up in my peacock aviary, and I noticed my peacocks eating both the leaves and seeds. They had no ill effect from the plant, and later I was watching a nature documentary about India and saw in one clip a forest of lantana and a peacock could be heard calling in the background. Thus, I figured in the wild they must eat from this plant.

I can confirm lantana is a favorite of bees and butterflies. Sometimes when I walk past the lantana bush, tons of little butterflies (usually Grey Hairstreek butterflies) scatter and flit about.

When cutting this plant, you may notice it has small thorns. However, since the thorns are small and not very sturdy I never get poked or scratched by the plant. It just has a rough texture. Also, when you cut the plant or rub the leaves, there is a very powerful distinct smell that they have. If you need to remove the entire plant, I find that it is not too difficult, especially after a good rain when the ground is wet. Some good pulling will usually remove the whole plant, main roots and all. Here in zone 8/9 the plant will die back, sometimes to the ground but it re-grows in spring. Even if mine doesn't die back, I will trim it a few feet back as it appears to benefit from a good pruning by growing back healther/thicker looking.

It does pop up all around my yard. Probably because of birds dispersing the seeds. I'm usually fine with the areas it chooses to pop up, so normally I will leave it.

When I made my back door garden and I was digging out the grass and digging in fresh heathy soil, I came across tons of these roots. I threw them out, but I obviously couldn't find them all as the plant grew back and pops up all over my garden. I've been pulling it every time I find it, but unfortunately they usually break away from the main root bulb. I had no idea it blooms so maybe I'll leave it alone and see if I like having it in the garden for the blooms. It certainly spreads and pops up in between the rocks of the rock border, etc.

2021 was my first year with this plant. All of the blooms barely opened and were very crinkled/misshapen. The flower also seemed more red/gold than pink. I'm wondering if I got a bad one? I'm hoping it performs better this year. I've been wanting this daylily because my husband has the same name!