The bundle flower – Desmanthus illinoensis
How about a perennial species with mimosa-like foliage for a cold region (zone 5)?
I bet everyone will ask you what’s that species in your garden bed and would want to touch the foliage.
Illinois Bundle flower (or prairie mimosa) is the one.
Desmanthus illinoensis, Illinois bundle flower, prairie mimosa
Unlike the real mimosa plant, the prairie mimosa leaflets will not fold inward when touched, they do it only in the evening and during very hot periods to retain the moisture.
White, globular flowers appear in June/July followed by clusters of pods, which have a beautiful flowery look early on.
Desmanthus illinoensis cluster of pods
It is definitely an interesting plant to mix in a flower bed not to mention that like all Fabaceae it is a nitrogen fixing plant and will naturally enrich the garden soil.
For those interested in the ethnobotanical aspects, the root bark has been found to contain various substances similar to those used in mix preparation of hallucinogenic drinks (like other species from the mimosa family).
I’ll say let’s keep it for the garden ;)
