A bunch of sun! With its shiny yellow, the Mimosa warms the roads of Provence in the heart of winter.

A brief history of the mimosa in Provence

Around 1880, the mimosa, native from Australia, made its appearance on the slopes of the Croix des Gardes in Cannes.

The mimosa was introduced its great winter hosts, such as the Marquis of Morès and the Duke of Vallombrosa. The Horticulture and Acclimatization Society greatly contributed to its promotion. The mimosistes (mimosa nursery owner) made their apparition in French Riviera’s cities such as Mandelieu, Pégomas, Tanneron. The train stations of Cannes and Mandelieu were the main hubs to export the mimosa to all major cities of France and Europe.

The mimosa became the king of winter in regions enjoying a warm climate like the French Riviera. This is the only area of Provence where the mimosa can survive the winter. Nevertheless we can sometimes see a beautiful mimosa tree in private gardens throughout the whole Provence region. There are more than 1200 species of Mimosa around the world and over 400 grow in Provence.

Some types of Mimosa

Gallic (Acacia Dealbata): Large, very vigorous tree with dark green foliage. Abundant flowering (yellow sulfur) that emerges largely from the foliage from late January to March.

Mirandole: Great development. Big leaves with a light green color. Flowering in a large cluster of pure bright yellow from late December to February. The Mirandole Mimosa suits for very large gardens.

Astier (Astier dealbata): One of the Mimosas tree which resists  colder temperatures. It withstands without damage to -8 / - 10 ° C.

4 season mimosa (Acacia Retinodes): It is one of the most resistant to cold (-9 ° C to -10 ° C). Spring-summer bloom. The last producer of this mimosa is located in Tanneron.

The Mimosa and its symbols

Yellow gold, the mimosa is one of the most used flowers in terms of symbolism.
With a delicate scent, it speaks to each of us with the accent of the South of France. Our Calisson by Gilles come from the same area and each mouthful of our sweet delicacy brings you to Provence. The savory blend of almond married with cantaloupe and a hint of orange reminds us of the golden Mimosa.
Here and there in Provence, the flowers of Mimosa naturally represents the Sun. 

In the language of flowers, the mimosa is the evocation of secret loves. Symbol of gold and sun, the mimosa is also the image of triumphant life, owing to the hardness of its wood and the victory over the forces of evil.

The Road of Mimosa

This symbolic tree of Provence in winter is the star of many festivals: carnivals, corsos  and botanical exhibitions such as Mimosalia in Bormes-les-Mimosas (last weekend of January) where are showcased rare plants, and other unusual varieties.

The mimosa is also a 130 kilometers (80 miles) of a perfumed getaway between the department of Var and Alpes Maritimes, a trip of 8 stops in the most beautiful villages of Provence between Grasse and Bormes-les-Mimosas.

Calisson by Gilles will give you an overview of this stunning bucolic road trip next month.