Light. Needs full sun.
Water. Give it plenty of water while it establishes. After that it is drought tolerant and seldom needs extra water. It does not tolerate flooding.
Soil and feeding. Grows in well-drained sandy soil, including poor soil. Its nutrient needs are low, and its roots fix nitrogen.
Size. Stays under 1 ft, often only a few inches tall, and spreads quickly into wide mats.
Pruning. It can be mowed as a lawn substitute but does not hold up to heavy foot traffic. Use an edging barrier or trim the edges to keep it where you want it.
Problems to watch. Cover thins out from late fall to early spring, so expect a sparser look in winter.
Good to know. A Florida native. Pink powderpuff flowers appear from spring to fall and attract bees. It is a larval host for the little yellow (little sulphur) butterfly.
Sources: Florida Native Plant Society Plant Database: Mimosa strigillosa · Natives for Your Neighborhood (Institute for Regional Conservation): Mimosa strigillosa
