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Albizia not flowering
The Bird Lady
Posts: 225
We've had an Albizia for about four or five years - it's in a large pot. Could this be why it's never flowered? It's kept under cover during the winter so never gets the frost, it's got beautiful leaves but no flowers - ideas anyone?
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The Persian Silk Tree at the Botanic Garden is a picture in the late summer and autumn. They grow like weeds in parts of the USA but seem a little difficult here. The one in the Garden is sheltered by a high wall and is fairly old, Would you have a sheltered place to put it outside. It needs a deep mulch, about a foot of bark every autumn.
When you say Botanic Garden, where do you mean?
I had read that they grow a little too well in the USA and are quite invasive there.
I could put it outside but that would be a last resort thing, I think.
They are grown as street trees in Tuscan seaside towns and also in the Charentes region of France and no doubt other hot and sunny areas. I've seen them in flower and they're glorious but always on big mature trees. Maybe you just need some patience with yours before it gets to flowering size.
You could also try giving it regular doses of high potash feed from next spring as this will encourage flower formation. Rose, clematis or tomato food will do.
Sorry,Bird Lady. I am a volunteer gardener at the Bristol University botanic Garden in Bristol where we tend to have fairly mild weather as we get some shelter from the Mendips. The Albizia there is in the C.hinese Medicinal herb Garden. I probably have a picture of it somewhere. i will look.
Here is the Albitzia flowering in the Bristol Botanic Garden on 05.08.10. That was a good summer and it flowered early.
I found a better picture of the albitzia taken on 19.08.2010. The bush was then about six feet tall.
It's fed regularly with tomato food but nothing has helped. Perhaps I've just got a 'duff'' one.
Patience! It's small yet for all the commitment of energy needed to flower and produce seeds. Give it time and keep feeding and watering and you'll get your reward in due time.