Puerto Rico Sensitive-Briar
Mimosa pigra var. asperata
- Native to:
- Belize, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, United States, Windward Is.
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Mimosa
- Species:
- Mimosa pigra var. asperata
- USDA Symbol:
- MIAS3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 600 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Filatima neotrophella, lesser cornstalk borer (Elasmopalpus lignosellus), Mimosa stem-mining moth (Neurostrota gunniella), Phidotricha erigens, Cogia calchas
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from roots after fire or cutting; fire alone does not control established populations.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained alluvial soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in floodplains and wetlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Hard seed coat requires scarification (hot water treatment or mechanical scarification) for good germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI