# sunshine mimosa (*Mimosa strigillosa*) The sunshine mimosa is a cheerful flower that loves to soak up the sun! Its fluffy pink blooms look like little pom-poms and attract butterflies and bees, making it a happy spot in gardens. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![sunshine mimosa](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Crystal_River_mimosa02.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crystal_River_mimosa02.jpg) ## Appearance The sunshine mimosa is a low-growing plant with delicate, fern-like green leaves. It has distinctive fluffy, spherical flowers that are vibrant pink to purplish. Its spreading habit forms a soft, dense groundcover, unlike taller mimosa species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Mimosa ## Interesting facts - Did you know some people call it a 'tickle-me plant' because its leaves react to a gentle touch? - Its fuzzy pink flowers look like tiny exploding stars when they bloom in the sun! - The sunshine mimosa's delicate leaves fold up tightly every evening to 'sleep' for the night! - This tough plant can grow a super long taproot deep into the soil to find precious water! ## Special abilities - **Sensitive Touch:** Sunshine mimosa can rapidly fold its feathery leaves inward when touched, helping it deter hungry critters or protect itself from harsh conditions. - **Soil Power-Up:** Sunshine mimosa has special root nodules that can convert nitrogen from the air into plant food, enriching the soil for itself and neighbors. - **Ground Hugger:** Sunshine mimosa has a creeping, spreading growth habit that helps it quickly cover and stabilize soil, preventing erosion on slopes. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-30 cm - **Spread:** 60-180 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to Fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — feeds on the flower nectar - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — grazes on its leaves and stems - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — collects nectar from its blooms ## 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. - [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. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [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 be gentle when touching plants, and wash your hands after playing outside. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify sunshine mimosa? 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 sunshine mimosa? 5-30 cm ### How wide does sunshine mimosa spread? 60-180 cm ### How big are the flowers on sunshine mimosa? 1-2 cm ### When does sunshine mimosa bloom? Spring to Fall ### Is sunshine mimosa edible? No ### Is sunshine mimosa toxic? None ### What is sunshine mimosa's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-st-jean-baptiste-state-historic-site) — Louisiana, US · Nature Reserve - [French Quarter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/french-quarter) — US · Neighborhood - [Locust Grove State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/locust-grove-state-historic-site) — Louisiana, US · Nature Reserve - [Silver Springs](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/silver-springs) — Florida, US · Zoo - [The Gardens of the American Rose Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-gardens-of-the-american-rose-center) — Louisiana, US · Botanical Garden - [Marie Selby Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marie-selby-botanical-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see sunshine mimosa](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sunshine-mimosa) ## 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: [Sunshine Mimosa: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sunshine-mimosa)