Sensitive Plant Seeds | Mimosa pudica, Shy Plant

Watch the delicate green leaflets of sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) fold when gently touched. Also called shy plant or touch-me-not, this tropical plant pairs its unusual leaf movement with soft pink puffball flowers. Grow it in a container near a bright window for a fascinating ornamental plant to observe.

At a glance

• Botanical name: Mimosa pudica
• Common names: Sensitive plant, shy plant, touch-me-not, sleeping grass
• Growth: Tender perennial in warm conditions; grown as an annual where winters are cold
• Flowers: Pink puffballs
• Leaf movement: Leaflets fold in response to touch and at night; this plant is not carnivorous
• Available sizes: 25 seeds, 100 seeds, 1/4 oz, 1 oz, 1/4 lb, or 1 lb

Sowing instructions

Soak seeds in water for 24 hours before sowing. Press into a seed-starting mix and cover lightly with about 1/8 inch of soil. Keep evenly moist and aim for temperatures of 65–70°F. Germination is typically listed at 5–10 days, but timing varies with conditions. If using a clear cover to retain moisture, remove it once seedlings emerge.

Growing and care

Provide full sun to partial shade outdoors or a bright, sunny window indoors. Grow in rich, moist, well-drained soil and allow approximately 15 inches between outdoor plants. Protect from frost and bring container plants indoors before cold weather. Observe the leaf movement with an occasional gentle touch rather than repeatedly disturbing the plant.

A plant to watch

Its folding leaves offer a small moment of wonder on a windowsill or patio. This listing is for ornamental plant seeds, not a culinary herb or a medicinal preparation.