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Acacia acinacea

round-leaf wattle

Fabaceae Southeastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Acacia acinacea is an evergreen leguminous shrub growing 3-8 feet (1-2.5 m) tall and 5-10 feet (1.5-3 m) wide, with an arching, spreading form and slender, often hairy stems. In place of true leaves it bears small grey-green phyllodes, oblong to almost rounded and 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) long, each tipped with a tiny point. Globular flower heads about 0.3 inch (8 mm) across crowd the stems in golden yellow from late winter into spring, carrying a light scent. Slightly curved pods follow and twist as they dry to release hard seed. As a legume, the plant fixes nitrogen through root nodules. Native to southeastern Australia, it grows in dry open forest, woodland, and mallee on sandy, loamy, and gravelly soils. It tolerates drought, frost, and poor soils once established but tends to be short-lived, often lasting under fifteen years, and can sucker or self-seed where conditions suit.

Native Range

Native to southeastern Australia, including Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia, where it grows in dry open forest, woodland, and mallee on sandy, loamy, and gravelly soils.

Suggested Uses

Planted in native and low-water gardens, on dry banks, and in revegetation and erosion control on sloping ground. Its flowers draw native bees and other insects, and its seed feeds birds.

How to Identify

Identify Acacia acinacea by its small grey-green oblong to rounded phyllodes, each with a tiny point, set along arching hairy stems, and its golden-yellow globular flower heads borne singly in the phyllode axils through late winter and spring. The curved, twisting pods help confirm it.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 8'

Width/Spread5' - 10'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Winter Spring

Golden-yellow globular flower heads open from late winter into spring, mainly August to October in the southern hemisphere. The lightly scented heads line the arching stems for several weeks before curved pods form.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-4 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Acacia acinacea in full sun to light shade in well-drained sandy, loamy, or gravelly soil. Established plants tolerate drought, frost, and poor soils and need little water once settled. Heavy, wet ground and rich feeding shorten an already short life. A light trim after flowering keeps the arching habit dense and slows legginess. It suits native gardens, dry banks, and erosion control on sloping ground. The plant is commonly raised from seed treated with heat or hot water to break dormancy.

Pruning

Prune lightly after flowering to shape the shrub and keep it bushy, removing soft tip growth rather than cutting into thick old wood. Hard cutting into bare stems is slow to reshoot and can leave gaps.

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown