Prairie Sensitive Briar or Brier (Mimosa nuttallii or Mimosa quadrivalis var. nuttallii), also called Prairie Sensitive Plant, Nuttall’s Briar, Bashful Briar, Cat's Claw Briar and 'Devil's Shoe Lace,' is a perennial plant in the genus Mimosa in the Legume family native to the prairies of North America. It's found in open woodlands, savannas, glades and prairies from Texas east to Louisiana and north to North Dakota and Wisconsin. It grows in sunny areas of prairies, roadsides and woodland margins where soils are sandy to rocky. Sensitive briar has a lot going for it. The flashy flowers are bright pink, the foliage responds to your touch and it provides forage for wildlife. That’s a lot to like about this little trailing plant. Bloom Color- There is nothing bashful about the flowers of Mimosa nuttallii. In bloom from mid-May to early September, each blossom is a globe composed of hot pink filaments with prominent yellow anthers at each tip. The delicate, fern-like leaves of Mimosa nuttallii respond to various stimuli by folding along the primary leaflet. You can initiate this reaction simply by touching a leaf. The folding also may occur due to wind or darkness- the leaves fold up at night. This reaction is termed seismonasty and is quite common in the Mimosaceae family. ~ Wildlife ~ Mimosa nuttallii provides forage for deer and turkey. Bobwhite quail consume the seeds and the nectar is important for many insects. It is also nutritious for livestock. The flowers are very attractive to birds, bees and other insects ~ Germination ~ 1. Place your seeds in warm water to soak for 12-24 hours. 2. Place your seeds barely under the soil, about 1/8 of an inch deep. 3. Water or mist the soil gently. Keep your soil moist but not overly wet. 4. Keep the seeds and soil in the sunniest and warmest location possible. Keep the temperature as close to 70 degrees or above. 5. The first leaves should sprout in about one to two weeks (these are not Shy). However, even these small Sensitive / Shy sprouts will begin “sleeping” at night, by closing their leaves. Sensitive briar is suitable in a sunny, dry natural garden where the plant can grow without disturbance. Plants have attractive twice-compound leaves, showy flowers and an amazing display of prickles. (Other scientific names that have been associated with sensitive brier: Mimosa nuttallii, Mimosa quadrivalvis var. angustata, Mimosa microphylla, Schrankia uncinata, Schrankia nuttallii, Schrankia angustata, Schrankia microphylla, Leptoglottis angustisiliqua, Leptoglottis chapmanii, Leptoglottis microphylla, Morongia angustata, Morongia microphylla, Morongia uncinata.)