I used to live in zone 5 NY, I did not know there was a zone 6 other than by NYC. I seriously doubt it would work. At least you won't get the flack that NE Ohio posting that caused so much agro.

At least it is unlikely to spread and take over in your zone.

Here its quite the weed. Here planting is like me taking zoysia plugs and planting them on the infield at Bush. Or if I decided to plant some Kudzu in the south east.

Perhaps I can interest your neighbor in some grape vine I have growing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kudzu vine!

It appears that they not only can be grown there but have successfully naturalized in some areas! Maybe you should plant some kudzu at it's base to complete your garden.

Here is a link that might be useful: Map Showing Naturalized Populations in New York

Are you guys just kidding about the kudzu vine? I don't get it and may be as dense as the vine itself. Please explain.

victory, I don't think that the comment about the kudzu was in 'total' jest. Just a little nudge about the problems with planting invasive species. In many of our eyes, planting mimosa on purpose can be as irresponsible as planting kudzu.

That being said, I was born and raised in CNY, but the climate was totally unsuited to Mimosa. Where are you located, right on one of the Finger Lakes?

I live 3-4 miles from Lake Ontario.

My Kudzu comment was a joke to draw a comparison between it and Mimosa. Brandon made a more intelligent point with his map link. I was merely saying something which would be sure to get attention. Them loud mouth political talk show hosts must be rubbing off on me!

This chocolate colored Mimosa I saw planted at a botanical garden in kansas city was a very attention getting plant. I'm not planting one though because I don't want my neighbors to hate me.

Sorry, but I didn't get Brandon's map link either. Does it show that there are or are not mimosa in the State of NY?

The green area on the map is where verified naturalized populations are located. The white areas may also contain populations or naturalized populations, but the green areas have been verified. Naturalized populations mean that the plant is not only present, but is growing and reproducing sufficiently enough to at least maintain current numbers.

You could always try 'Ernest Wilson', suppose to be a cold-hardier cultivar, though mine hasn't done anything, always dying back.

And don't forget about the 'General Sherman's Ghost' underplanting!

...sorry...take off the General. It's just 'Sherman's Ghost'

I already put some "Sherman's Ghost" underneath the Tree of Heaven I planted earlier this spring- seems to be spreading like wild fire, I love it!!

The Sherman Ghost also contrasts very well with my hedge row of "Russian Olives".

What's with the trollish remarks all of a sudden?

Just giving back a little and really not trolling. I love this forum too much to do that. I don't think I am going to plant a mimosa- just too many "ifs".

Good for you, victory tea. Not only for changing your mind, but for dishing out some sass with good humor!

I'll bet that this motley crew can come up with some good alternatives for you. I assume that you are looking for a smallish, flowering specimen? Something a little bit different than what all the neighbors have?

rhizo_1 ; exactly, I lived on 50 acres before and planted all the local favorites but now I live on a little over a half acre and in town. I am researching my plantings carefully and want it to be a yard with some different trees and shrubs. I am also trying to go with fragrance. Thanks for recognizing that I did not intend to "troll".

Well, I'm glad to hear you were not trolling - it's so hard to tell and these threads tend to bring out the worst in some people.

So, besides fragrance, what other characteristics do you want?

- sun, shade
- bloom time: spring, summer
- bloom color: white, any other
- fall color: good, doesn't matter, matters the most

etc.

If you are sure on the zone 6 and it is in a protected you might be able find one of the coldish tolerant crepe myrtles.

BTW good decision on the Mimosa. When we moved from NY Southern Tier to High Desert in CA my wife wanted a Mimosa it was a pain in the Ass. It got zapped by rare temps down to 15F. I had to trim off dead branches.

esh_ga' I agree the threads can bring out the worst- try reading the whole thread before accusing someone of trolling. I can situate the tree in sun or shade and bloom time is not that important. Color of flower would be other than white and fall color would be a big plus.

Victory, it's not the trolling accusations that are usually the problem; it's the actual troll-like comments, or the hysteria that sometimes follows, that can get out of hand. Sometimes discussions about trees can get pretty opinionated and heated.

I know this species is invasive in many areas of this country. That said, I grew up in the suburbs outside Buffalo, NY admiring a mimosa tree planted down the road from me. This tree was already nearing maturity when I noticed it nearly ten years ago. It has a trunk diameter of 8-9" and is a little under 20 feet tall. The tree flowers profusely every year, sets viable seed (I'm germinating some now), and has little to no die back in the past eight years from our zone 6a winters. Since I noticed the tree, I have not seen a single seedling near the tree or at a distance on the property - I've checked every year in hopes of finding a seedling to dig up and plant on my property. It just doesn't re-seed itself in my climate.

My point is that a nuisance tree in many parts of the country can be a very nice landscape specimen in other parts of the country. I would suggest trying mimosa and simply see how it does. If you experience significant annual die-back or it starts to re-seed itself like mad in a few years, simply cut it down and try something different. If you don't want to risk experiencing some of the potential negative aspects of growing this species, then go with something different! Having observed this tree for a few years and seeing a couple more in the city of Buffalo itself, I'm more than willing to give it a try on my property.

try reading the whole thread before accusing someone of trolling.

Actually, I've been reading it all along. I'm sorry, I just didn't realize you were being sassy.

tree in sun or shade and bloom time is not that important. Color of flower would be other than white and fall color would be a big plus.

Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' is nice and would probably take full sun in CNY (tends to lose it's color in too much shade). Fall color is not so good.

Oxydendrum arboreum, Sourwood, has great fall color and summer blooms (but they are white).

Acer rubrum - good cultivars available now for spectacular fall color, flowers red in early spring. I think the Freeman hybrids might be good for your area: Acer x freemannii 'Autumn Blaze' for example.

esh_ga, thanks for the suggestions but Forest Pansy ( a deadbud) is out as is the white flowered tree. I had an Autumn Blaze and the fall color is amazing, otherwise a very ordinary tree. I will welcome any further suggestions and I appreciate your gracious attitude.