Albizia julibrissin -
Durazz.

Mimosa

AuthorDurazz.
Botanical references11, 51, 200

FamilyLeguminosae
GenusAlbizia
SynonymsAcacia julibrissin - (Durazz.)Willd.


Known HazardsNone known
RangeW. Asia and E. Asia - Iran to China.

HabitatOpen sunny ravines, forests and by rivers up to 2100 metres in the Himalayas[51, 158].
Edibility Rating 2 (1-5)
Medicinal Rating 2 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

A decidious Tree growing to 12m by 10m.

It is hardy to zone 7 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to
August, and the seeds ripen from September to November. The flowers are
hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)It can fix Nitrogen.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay)
soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor
soil.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow
in very alkaline and saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade.
It requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Canopy; Secondary; Sunny Edge; South Wall By;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves.

Edible Uses: Tea.


Young leaves - cooked. An aromatic flavour[2, 106, 178, 179], they are used as a potherb[183].
Flowers - cooked. Eaten as a vegetable[183].
The dried leaves are a tea substitute[177, 183].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants.
Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Analgesic; Anthelmintic; Carminative; Digestive; Diuretic; Oxytoxic; Plaster; Sedative; Stimulant; Tonic; Vulnerary.


The flower heads are carminative, digestive, sedative and tonic[176,
218, 238]. They are used internally in the treatment of insomnia,
irritability, breathlessness and poor memory[176, 238]. The flowers are
harvested as they open and are dried for later use[238].
The stembark is anodyne, anthelmintic, carminative, discutient,
diuretic, oxytocic, sedative, stimulant, tonic, vermifuge and
vulnerary[176, 178, 218]. It is used internally in the treatment of
insomnia, irritability, boils and carbuncles[238]. Externally, it is
applied to injuries and swellings[238]. The bark is harvested in spring
or late summer and is dried for later use[238].
A gummy extract obtained from the plant is used as a plaster for
abscesses, boils etc and also as a retentive in fractures and
sprains[218].

Other Uses

Gum; Plaster.


A gummy extract of the plant is used as a plaster[178]. No more details are given.
Wood - dense, hard, strong, takes a good polish. Used for furniture, industrial applications, firewood etc[74, 158, 272].

Cultivation details

Requires a well-drained moisture retentive soil and a very sunny
position[200]. Succeeds in dry soils. Highly fertile soils can promote
soft sappy growth which is frost tender[200]. Trees tolerate a high pH,
saline soils, high winds and drought[200, 238]. They also succeed in
poor soils[238].
Trees prefer a more continental climate than Britain[11] and when
dormant are hardy to about -20°c in such a zone[200]. They are only
hardy to about -10°c in the maritime climate of this country[200]. The
young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so
it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early
morning sun[K]. They succeed on a sunny wall at Kew[11], and also in a
more open but sunny sheltered position there[K], but only really
succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of Britain[1]. If killed back to
the ground by a severe winter, plants can often resprout from the
base[200]. The form 'Rosea' is hardier and more compact, succeeding
even in the drier parts of Britain if given some protection[11].
Plants are quite tolerant of pruning and can be fan-trained for growing
on a wall. Any pruning is best done in late winter or early
spring[202].
Often grown as a summer bedding plant[1].
Quite tolerant of being transplanted[200]. Plants often produce
suckers[200].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria,
these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen.
Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can
also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak 24 hours in hot water and sow March/April in a
greenhouse or sow as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[113].
Germinates in 2 - 3 months at 19°c. Scarification helps[133]. There are
about 11,000 seeds to a pound, about 25 - 33% of which germinate[227].
Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of fairly rich soil when
they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for
at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer
and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first
winter or two outdoors[K].
Root cuttings, late winter in a greenhouse[113, 200].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[200].
Suckers planted out in late winter[200].

Cultivars

'Rosea'

A hardier and more compact form of the species, it succeeds in the drier parts of the country if given some protection[11].

Stachys germanica -
L.

Downy Woundwort

AuthorL.
Botanical references17, 200

FamilyLabiatae
GenusStachys
Synonyms

Known HazardsNone known
RangeCentral and Southern Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa and the Orient.
HabitatPastures
and hedgebanks[17], especially on limestone soils[4]. A very rare
native of Britain, it is only found in Oxford, though is common in
Europe[4, 17].

Edibility Rating 0 (1-5)
Medicinal Rating 2 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 1m.

It is hardy to zone 5. It is in flower from July to August, and the
seeds ripen from August to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have
both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
It requires moist soil.

Habitats

Meadow; Hedgerow;

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants.
Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Antiseptic; Plaster.

The leaves are densely covered with long white silky hairs, they
have been used as a substitute for lint in dressing wounds[4]. The
thick, lint-like leaves are both soft and strongly antiseptic[245].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Easily grown in any deep, well-drained and moderately fertile soil, preferring a position in full sun[200].
The plant is a short-lived perennial and is sometimes biennial[17].
Closely related to S. cretica and S. byzantina[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to
handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on
in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their
permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last
expected frosts.
Division in spring.