Sunshine Mimosa, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Sunshine mimosa is a Florida native groundcover with pink powderpuff flowers and fern-like leaves that fold when touched. It thrives in Southwest Florida's sun, sandy soil and summer heat, and it works as a low-water alternative to turf in sunny spots with light foot traffic. It is not for salty ground, deep shade or heavy play. We deliver and plant it.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade; blooms best in full sun
- Water:
- Low once established; needs regular water while it roots in
- Salt:
- Low; not for salt spray or tidal soil
Sunshine Mimosa
Ask for a photo of the actual plant we would deliver.
Sunshine Mimosa sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Sunshine Mimosa | Call for Quote |
Sunshine Mimosa in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 3 to 8 in tall; spreads by runners to cover large areas
- Light
- Full sun to part shade; blooms best in full sun
- Water
- Low once established; needs regular water while it roots in
- Salt tolerance
- Low; not for salt spray or tidal soil
- Cold tolerance
- Foliage thins and can brown in cold snaps, then regrows from the roots in spring
- Growth rate
- Moderate; spreads by runners
- Spacing
- 12 to 18 in on center
- Florida native
- Yes
- Botanical name
- Mimosa strigillosa
Where Sunshine Mimosa works in a SW Florida yard
Use sunshine mimosa to replace patches of turf in full sun, such as around mailboxes, along driveways or under young trees, where you want a soft green mat without mowing every week. It tolerates occasional foot traffic and can be mowed high, but it is not a play lawn.
Pair it with muhly grass, firebush and coontie for an all-native, low-water landscape, and edge it so it stays where you want it.
- Low-water lawn alternative
- Sunny bed groundcover
- Pollinator and butterfly beds
- Sunny slopes and bare areas
How our crew plants it
Clear turf and weeds first, since young plants cannot compete. Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart at pot depth, and water in well, using the extra watering allowed for new plantings in Lee and Collier. It wants regular water for the first weeks, then fills in by runners. Keep broadleaf weed killers off it, because they can kill it.
Care after planting
- Water regularly until it is rooted and spreading, then ease off, since established plants handle dry spells.
- Skip fertilizer, because this legume makes its own nitrogen.
- Hand-weed through the first season, and avoid broadleaf herbicides nearby.
- Mow high or trim edges once or twice a year to tidy it and keep it out of beds and walks.
What to watch for
- It spreads by runners and will wander into beds and onto walks unless you edge or trim it.
- It has little to no salt tolerance, so keep it away from salt spray and tidal ground.
- Winter cold and dry spells thin the foliage, and the plant looks sparse until warm weather returns.
Sunshine Mimosa questions we hear
Can sunshine mimosa replace my lawn in Florida?+
In sunny areas with light foot traffic, yes. It makes a soft, low mat that needs no fertilizer and can be mowed high. It is a poor fit for play areas, deep shade or salty ground. Expect a season or two to fill in, with some weeding while it does.
Is sunshine mimosa native, and when does it bloom?+
It is a Florida native perennial. Pink powderpuff flowers appear from spring through fall, and the leaves fold shut when touched. In winter the foliage thins, then fills back in. It is also a host plant for the little sulphur butterfly.
How far apart do I plant sunshine mimosa, and how fast does it spread?+
Space it 12 to 18 inches apart. Once it roots, runners spread across the bed over a season or two in sun. Edge your beds and trim now and then, because it will creep into walkways and neighboring plantings.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Sunshine Mimosa
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.