Albizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate'

Rich chocolate-burgundy, ferny leaves on wide-spreading branches with silky, pink, fragrant flowers in summer. Does not leaf out until very late in spring. Great as a shade tree. Best flowering occurs in full-sun. Tolerates heat and drought. Has weak limbs that can be damaged by strong winds, snow, and ice. Seeds and seedpods are severely toxic to humans and animals. Easy to transplant.

Exotic

Deciduous

Toxic to animals

Tolerates drought

Dry soils

Clay soils

Sandy soils

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

Attracts bees

Family: Fabaceae, legume, pea, or bean family, a family of flowering trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants.

Genus: Albizia, albizia (Latinised), named after the Italian nobleman Filippo degli Albizzi (18th century) who introduced Albizia julibrissin to Europe in the mid-18th century. Commonly known as silk plant or silk tree, a genus of trees and shrubs.

Species: Albizia julibrissin, julibrissin, derived from the Persian phrase gul-i abrisham (silk flower, from gul [flower] and abrisham [silk]), in reference to this species' flower stamens consisting of elongated and silky strands.

Cultivar: Albizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate'

Common Name: Persian Silk Tree

Other Common Name(s): Pink Silk Tree

Description: Rich chocolate-burgundy, ferny leaves on wide-spreading branches with silky, pink, fragrant flowers in summer. Does not leaf out until very late in spring. Great as a shade tree. Best flowering occurs in full-sun. Tolerates heat and drought. Has weak limbs that can be damaged by strong winds, snow, and ice. Seeds and seedpods are severely toxic to humans and animals. Easy to transplant.

Height: 5m

Width: 4m

Uses: Shade, Attracts bees

Tolerates: Drought

Soil Type: Dry soils, Clay soils, Sandy soils

Sun and Shade: Full sun, Part shade

Winter Foliage: Deciduous

Origin: Exotic

Types: Toxic to animals

Foliage:

• Summer: Purple

• Autumn: Purple

• Winter: None

• Spring: Purple

Flowers:

• Summer: Pink

• Autumn: None

• Winter: None

• Spring: None