Common Sensitive Plant (Misidentified as grass in prompt context)
Mimosa pudica · Warm-season dicotyledonous perennial often treated as an annual or weed
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Weed / Invasive / Sensitive Plant
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11 as a perennial, often grown as an annual in cooler climates.
Grass Family
Fabaceae (Legume family)
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type
About This Grass
Not a true grass, but a dicotyledonous herb famous for its compound leaves that fold inward and droop when touched or shaken. Features delicate pink or purple puffball-like flowers and prickly stems.
Blade Characteristics
Pinnately compound leaves consisting of two or more paired leaflets. Leaflets are sensitive to touch, folding inward rapidly. Not a grass blade.
Root System
Deep taproot system with secondary fibrous roots, making mature plants difficult to pull completely by hand.
Growing Information
Origin Region
South America and Central America, now widely naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Sprawling subshrub with a combination of taproot and branching stems
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun and moderate watering. Highly drought-tolerant once established. Prefers well-draining soil.
Mowing & Maintenance
Grows low to the ground and can survive close mowing if stems remain intact; difficult to control selectively in turfgrass.
Special Characteristics
Thigmonastic movement (leaves fold upon touch), presence of sharp prickles along the stems, acts as a persistent lawn weed in warm climates.
Ecological Information
Fixes nitrogen in the soil due to its legume family nature, considered an invasive weed in many agricultural and turf settings.