Zen Sleeper Tree

Cojoba arborea, sold as the Zen Sleeper or sleeping tree, is an elegant evergreen with feathery, mimosa like foliage. Its leaflets fold shut every evening and unfurl again at dawn, a daily rhythm the plant keeps by its own internal clock. Few indoor trees have this much quiet character, which is why it sits with our rare and unusual plants.

Origins

A rainforest tree of the pea family, native from Mexico through Central America and the Caribbean to South America, where it grows into a substantial canopy tree.

Care

Give it plenty of bright, indirect light and keep the compost lightly moist, letting only the surface dry between waterings. It likes steady warmth above 15C, away from cold draughts, and appreciates a touch of extra humidity. In a pot it grows at a measured pace and stays at houseplant scale. Find companions among our houseplants and large plants.