How big does Persian silk tree grow?

About 5 m × 4 m after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 6–12 m × 6–15 m.

What soil does Persian silk tree grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, clay, calcareous, acidic.

Is Persian silk tree hardy?

Hardy down to -20 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H6). In the colder parts of the country (Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol) it may not survive winter without protection.

How far from the house should Persian silk tree be planted?

Plant it at least 4 m from buildings. Keep it at least 2.5 m from paving.

When does Persian silk tree flower?

Flowering: June–September, pink.

How much water does Persian silk tree need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Persian silk tree cost?

It sells for roughly €27 to €410 in local shops, depending on size.

Persian silk tree

Albizia julibrissin

Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) is a small tree that reaches 5 m × 4 m after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -20 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Sold in local shops from about €27.

Illustration of Persian silk tree — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A small tree with a wide, flat, umbrella-like crown, finely divided fern-like foliage and pink, silky pompom flowers in midsummer that bees and butterflies love. It belongs in full sun in a warm, sheltered spot, copes well with drought and limy soil and casts light, dappled shade beside a terrace. It is frost tender when young and leafs out very late in spring, and the falling flowers, leaflets and pods mean a lot of sweeping.

Watch out for

Its hardiness is borderline in Central Europe: young trees of one or two years and unripened shoots can be cut back at around -15 °C, and a hard winter kills branches on older trees too, so plant it in a sheltered spot and mulch the base for the first winters. The wood is brittle and breaks in wind, snow and ice, and the tree is short-lived. The albizia psyllid has arrived in the region, Hungary included, and disfigures the foliage with heavy sucking and sticky honeydew. In warm sites it seeds itself, and its thick surface roots can lift paving. Elsewhere fusarium wilt kills trees.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 5 m × 4 m
Hardiness: down to -20 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–September, pink

Group	Small tree
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	5 m × 4 m
Ultimate size	6–12 m × 6–15 m
Hardiness	down to -20 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Clay, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	June–September, pink
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Medium
Suckering	no
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	at least 4 m
Distance from paving	at least 2.5 m
Litter	Fruit, Leaves, Honeydew
Planting distance	600 cm
For dogs	Toxic (uncertain)
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €27

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
50-70 cm	approx. €32
60-80 cm	approx. €63
80-100 cm	approx. €57
100-125 cm	approx. €75
125-150 cm	approx. €79
size not stated	approx. €27 – €410

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Small ornamental trees Plants that give shade Plants for a Mediterranean garden Fragrant plants

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