The powderpuff mimosa pinks up Jekyll in the spring
By Muriel Vega
Despite its small size, the low-growing powderpuff mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa) offers many benefits to the Jekyll Island ecosystem beyond just pollination and erosion control. As a member of the legume family, this plant acts as a nitrogen fixer, enriching the soil with nitrogen and helping neighboring plants to absorb more nutrients.
Powderpuff mimosas are a state priority species. This means people are discouraged from touching, collecting, or harming them to help conserve them, although the flower does have a built-in protection mechanism: It will close its leaves if touched.
While they only grow in a few spots on Jekyll Island, you can plant them in your own garden to enjoy. Jekyll Island Authority’s director of conservation, Yank Moore, says, “Their dense root system provides erosion control and can actually suppress weeds once established due to their ability to spread as groundcover. They can handle being mowed, and have the ability to withstand foot traffic.”
