The “tree of happiness”, considered a symbol of beauty, balance and protection. The mimosa is the eternal symbol of feminine energies; sensitivity, empathy, sensuality. It brings respect and happiness in business through joyful activity, and its flower also carries a message of loyal love.
Mimosa, also known as silkwood, is a tree native to Asia and is widely planted as an ornamental. An evergreen fast-growing tree with fern-like bright yellow leaves. Growing to an average height of 10 to 12 metres, it is a perfect garden tree. The colour of the wood ranges from light brown to deeper golden or reddish brown. The colour darkens steadily over time. The material is rough, with a slightly uneven texture and a natural sheen. It is not commonly harvested commercially, and is more likely to be available for sale by hobby loggers or small sawmills. It is used for furniture making, handicrafts and turned objects.
Wood Care
Oil: oil is completely colourless and does not form a layer on the wood, bringing out the original shade of the furniture. It is completely absorbed into the wood, coating the wood fibres. Treatment with oil makes the furniture waterproof and protects it from stains caused by daily use. Sanding the treated surface restores the natural effect. You can buy tropical wood preservative oil specifically for treating wood, but you can also use vegetable oils found in your household.
Beeswax. Beeswax treatment is one of the oldest known polishing processes and the process is relatively simple. The wax is applied to the surface to be treated with a soft cloth and rubbed into the pores of the wood. This gives a dull, silky sheen to the surface, which is also slightly waterproof and scratch-resistant. You can improve the finish by adding a resin to the wax or by coating the waxed surface with a layer of shellac. After drying in a warm room, the excess should be removed with a soft cloth and the surface wiped dry with another soft cloth.
Varnish: The varnish will form a thin layer on the surface of the furniture, which is completely transparent. It is highly resistant to external influences, rubbing, scratches and stains. The disadvantage is that if the furniture is damaged in a particular area, it is not enough to treat that one area, but the whole piece of furniture must be covered. Varnish is an excellent long-term solution as it is highly resistant. There are several types of lacquer to choose from to suit your taste, matt, semi matt, satin or even gloss. For indoor use, a longer drying time is suitable, while for outdoor use a shorter drying time is recommended.
Sustainability
Mimosa is not exploited in large quantities and is therefore not listed in the CITES appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Interesting Facts
The mimosa tree, a beautiful ornamental plant with pink, soft and silky-scented flowers. Its name comes from the Greek word ‘mimos’, meaning ‘mimic’. The name suggests that the plant’s behaviour mimics the mouth of a predator.
The Persian name for the tree means ‘night sleeper’ and in Japan it is known as the ‘sleeping tree’.
Mimosa flowers are aromatic. Interestingly, it is not the petals but the long, thread-like stamens that make the flowers so showy and colourful. Their colour can vary from yellowish-pink to coral red. They bloom in summer, from April to July, and grow in clusters at the end of branches.
