Albizia julibrissin Rouge Selection

Albizia julibrissin 'Red Selection' is a variety that offers large, silky, dark pink, almost red pompoms in summer! It is a deciduous cultivar with medium green, fine and feathery foliage that resembles that of Mimosa. Its crown takes the form of a spread-out umbrella, ideal for shading a terrace or lining a pathway. This tree is hardy up to -15° C (5° F) and should be planted in full sun, sheltered from cold winds in light, well-drained soil. The species is particularly suited to hot and dry climates.

Albizia julibrissin is a deciduous tree in the Fabaceae family, whose range extends from Iran to eastern China. The 'Red Selection' variety is distinguished by its dark pink, almost red flowering. Under suitable growing conditions, it can reach 7 m (23 ft) in height with a spread of 5 m (16.4 ft). It blooms from July to September, producing plume-like and silky inflorescences that have earned it the name "silk tree". They are actually made up of long, dark pink, reddish stamens that are clearly visible, protruding from the rudimentary corollas grouped in heads. The flowers' powdery and sweet fragrance is most noticeable up close. The flowering gives way to a fruit, a flat pod, 8 cm to 20 cm (3.1 in to 7.9 in) in length, initially green then brown, containing 5 to 15 fairly large oval seeds, which germinate easily. The leaves, deciduous and light green, are alternate and very large, measuring from 15 cm to 40 cm (5.9 in to 15.7 in), beautifully cascading from the drooping branches. They are divided into large leaflets, themselves subdivided into small leaflets. The bark is thin, grey-green then grey, almost smooth, with whitish lenticels. Finally, and this is a characteristic of plants in the Fabaceae family, the roots form nodules capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen through specific bacteria present in these organs. The taproot system of this small tree does not tolerate transplanting well. The lifespan of the Albizia is variable, but under our climates it usually reaches around thirty years.

Plant the Pink Silk Tree, with its majestic and airy silhouette, as a standalone to provide light shade on a terrace, for example. Its flowering accentuates its exotic side. In mild climates, it can be paired with oleanders and pittosporums. Care must be taken to ensure its hardiness by planting it in well-drained soil, in full sun, and sheltered from prevailing winds and cold drafts.