The Sensitive Plant has delicate, fern-like foliage and produces pretty, ball-shaped pink flowers from August to October.
The Sensitive Plant comes from Brazil where it forms thick bushes on the plains.
It has a curious way of deterring would-be predators: when the leaves are touched they curl up to reveal spiky thorns—enough to scare off any passing animal that might take a liking to the juicy leaves. After they have been touched, the leaves open up again after 30 minutes or so. This folding mechanism is so delicate that the plant sometimes collapses its leaves when sunlight is too bright. The plant should therefore be kept out of direct sunlight, especially if sited in a window. At night, the leaves fold automatically.
Although Sensitive Plant grows into substantial bushes in the wild, it is more modest in temperate climates. Given good conditions, the leaf fronds can grow to a height of 45cm (18in) or more and the plant is best grown in 15cm (bin) pots. During the summer, the plant bears clusters of small, ball-like flowers that are pink or violet in colour. These flowers have little or no fragrance.
Although Sensitive Plant is a perennial, it is usually grown as an annual in temperate climates because it is difficult to overwinter successfully. It is possible to propagate by taking cuttings but sowing seeds is the more common method. 
It grows starry, porn-porn shaped flowers from August to October.
It is an attractive plant from Brazil that is usually grown as an annual in cooler areas.
Sensitive Plant can be successfully propagated by taking stem cuttings.
1 Take 10cm (4in) cuttings in late summer or early autumn.
2 Pare off the leaves from the bottom half of the cuttings and dip the cut ends in hormone rooting powder.
3 Plant the cuttings in rooting compost.
1 Before sowing seeds, pour hot water over them — this process acts as a stimulant.
2 Sow the seeds in a tray full of seed compost. Place the tray in a warm site and keep the compost moist.
3 Thin out the plantlets to give more room when they germinate.
4 When they are large enough to handle, transfer the young plants to 15cm (bin) pots — two or three plants to a pot.
5 Place young plants in a sunny spot and, two or three weeks after potting, start feeding with a dilute liquid fertilizer.
6 Stop feeding Sensitive Plant in autumn. To overwinter plants, place them in a cool, bright position until spring.
Yellow blotches on the leaves, which then fall prematurely, are caused by red spider mites.
Prevention: Spider mites flourish in warm, dry conditions, so mist the leaves frequently to increase humidity.
Treatment: Spray infected plants regularly with a suitable insecticide.
Leaves sometimes turn yellow it the water temperature is too cold. Prevention: Use tepid water when you feed and nourish the plant.
Sensitive Plant is easy to grow but it needs plenty of light and moisture. No grooming is necessary as plants are usually discarded in the autumn, although you can propagate with cuttings.
The Sensitive Plant is well named — when its feathery leaves are touched, they fold up to reveal sharp thorns. It is usually grown as an attractive annual.
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