{"product_id":"albizia-julibrissin-summer-chocolate","title":"Albizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate'","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew hardy exotics turn heads quite like \u003cstrong\u003eAlbizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate'\u003c\/strong\u003e, a sumptuous dark-leaved selection of the much-loved \u003cstrong\u003ePersian silk tree\u003c\/strong\u003e. Where the species carries fresh green, ferny foliage, this cultivar unfurls feathery, mimosa-like leaves in deep chocolate-bronze to burgundy, giving the whole plant a smoky, almost tropical presence in the garden. From mid to late summer it is topped with powderpuff flowers in candyfloss pink, their silky stamens shimmering against the dark canopy and drawing in bees and butterflies on warm days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is this contrast of dusky foliage and bright bloom that makes the chocolate-leaved \u003cstrong\u003esilk tree\u003c\/strong\u003e such a prized specimen. Grown as a spreading small tree or large shrub, it develops a graceful, flat-topped, layered canopy that casts dappled shade, perfect as a focal point on a patio border, in a gravel garden, or among other exotics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the richest leaf colour, plant \u003cstrong\u003eAlbizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate'\u003c\/strong\u003e in full sun in a warm, sheltered spot, ideally south or west facing. It is happy in any reasonably fertile, well-drained soil, including chalk and sandy ground, and tolerates a wide pH range. Good drainage over winter matters far more than soil richness, so lighten heavy clay with grit before planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMature size around 4-6 m tall by 3-5 m wide over many years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHardy in most of the UK (RHS H4), to roughly -10C once established\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNotably drought-tolerant once its roots have settled\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeciduous, leafing out late in spring, so be patient in early summer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHardy through most of the country, it benefits from a winter mulch over the roots while young, and any frost-nipped shoots can simply be trimmed back in spring. Whether you are searching to \u003cstrong\u003ebuy Albizia julibrissin\u003c\/strong\u003e as a statement tree or hunting for an unusual dark-foliage exotic for a sheltered corner, this is a plant that rewards a sunny position handsomely. Every specimen we send out is nursery-grown, carefully hardened and selected for strong, healthy growth, ready to establish quickly and become a lasting talking point in your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm","offer_id":57810283168127,"sku":"ALBIJULICHOC19","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/albizia-julibrissin-summer-chocolate","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}