Keywords
Happiness, Love, Peace, Perseverance, Protection, Purification, Sensitivity

Historical Background and Folklore
With fern-like leaves and delicate flowers, one would not expect the mimosa to be an aggressive competitor on many gardeners’ “least wanted” list. It is highly competitive with native plants in open spaces along forest edges and is a common sight along many U.S. Interstate highways. Regarded as a problem to some, others love its exotic appearance and cultivate it as an ornamental asset.

Mimosa was introduced into the United States in 1745 and was chosen by Thomas Jefferson to grace the gardens at his home, Monticello. (Jefferson was said to have been fanatical about his gardens and trees.) While mimosas are usually short-lived and have brittle wood, one lasted 25 years at Monticello. Mimosa seeds seem to be hardier than the trees as they can be germinated after 50 years of dormancy.

Medicinally mimosa is an astringent but it also has been used to treat depression and insomnia. Its leaves are used in Chinese cooking. There is a theory that mimosa bark is an ingredient in the heavily guarded Coca Cola recipe.

Zodiac: Cancer, Capricorn, Virgo Celestial Body: Saturn
Colors: pink, purple, red
Miscellaneous: copper; January full moon; lift worries; self-work for raising awareness

© Llewellyn - Whispers from the Woods

For more information, refer to the full text in Whispers from the Woods.