Growing Mystery Tree Seeds from Florida Theme Parks

Identifying Seed-Grown Trees from Central Florida

A Central Florida gardener collected seed pods from trees at theme parks like Animal Kingdom and Busch Gardens, successfully germinating several but unable to identify them. One specimen, grown for four years without flowering, was suggested to be a mimosa tree. Photos were provided via a link.

Expert Analysis of Four Specimens

• #1: Too small for confident ID; appears to be a legume like the others.
• #2: Likely a species of Cassia; flower photos would help confirm.
• #3: Resembles common mimosa or Albizia julibrissin.
• #4: Some species of Acacia; hundreds exist, requiring collection data for precise identification.

All appear to be legumes. The expert emphasized that flowering characteristics are often crucial for definitive species-level identification in these genera.