Known as wattle in its native south-eastern Australia, mimosa was introduced to the French Riviera by British aristocrats who flocked to its resort towns in search of winter sunshine. Making its first appearance around 1880, the Acacia dealbata (or silver wattle) they brought in their luggage quickly took to the acidic soils of the French region"s mountainous western terrain. "Having found the same growing conditions as back in Australia, the plant spread," horticulturist Julien Cavatore told me.