# Plume Albizia (*Paraserianthes lophantha*) Plume Albizia is a beautiful tree with fluffy pink flowers that look like little clouds! It grows tall and provides shade, making it a great spot for picnics and play. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Plume Albizia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Paraserianthes_lophantha_subsp._lophantha_1DS-II_1-9689.jpg&width=800) Photo: SAplants, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paraserianthes_lophantha_subsp._lophantha_1DS-II_1-9689.jpg) ## Appearance The Plume Albizia has soft, feathery flowers, often creamy white to yellow, that look like delicate bottlebrushes. Its fern-like, compound leaves add to its elegant appearance. These distinctive fluffy blooms make it visually different from many other trees. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Paraserianthes ## Interesting facts - After flowering, it grows flat, papery pods that rattle in the wind. - Its fuzzy flowers are actually hundreds of tiny threads, not petals! - Some people call it "silk tree" because its blooms feel so soft and silky. - This tree is super tough and can be one of the first to grow back after a bushfire! ## Special abilities - **Soil Supercharger:** Plume Albizia can pull nitrogen from the air with special root bacteria, enriching the soil for other plants. - **Fire Rescuer:** This tree can quickly re-sprout after fires, helping damaged environments recover faster. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 500-1000 cm - **Spread:** 300-700 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Winter to Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from its flowers - **Symbiotic with:** Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (*Bradyrhizobium japonicum*) — helps enrich soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen - **Shelter:** Splendid Fairy-wren (*Malurus splendens*) — uses its branches for cover and nesting ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay a safe distance from the tree and don't climb on it without an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Plume Albizia? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Plume Albizia? 500-1000 cm ### How wide does Plume Albizia spread? 300-700 cm ### How big are the flowers on Plume Albizia? 3-5 cm ### When does Plume Albizia bloom? Late Winter to Spring ### Is Plume Albizia edible? No ### Is Plume Albizia toxic? Moderate ### What is Plume Albizia's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Lands End](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lands-end) — California, US · Natural Landmark ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Plume Albizia: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/plume-albizia)