Acacia disparrima
southern salwood
Overview
Acacia disparrima is an evergreen shrub or tree reaching 15-65 feet (4.5-20 m) tall and 10-25 feet (3-7.5 m) wide, with an upright trunk and an open, spreading crown. In place of true leaves it bears flattened phyllodes 3-8 inches (8-20 cm) long and 0.6-2 inches (1.5-5 cm) wide, slightly curved, grey-green, with several prominent longitudinal veins. Pale yellow flowers are packed into cylindrical rod-like spikes 0.8-1.6 inches (2-4 cm) long, borne singly or paired in the phyllode axils, opening in spring. The flowers are followed by flat, twisted to coiled seed pods up to 4 inches (10 cm) long. As a legume it fixes atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules. It is a fast-growing pioneer of disturbed and regenerating forest, and plants are short-lived, often declining after 15-20 years. It grows on a range of soils but is sensitive to severe frost when young.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, in Queensland and northeastern New South Wales. Grows in open forest, rainforest margins, and regenerating disturbed ground on sandy and clay-loam soils, from near sea level to about 3,300 feet (1,000 m).Suggested Uses
Used in revegetation, habitat, and quick-screen plantings, spaced 10-20 feet (3-6 m) apart. Suited to regenerating bushland and rural windbreaks where a fast-growing, short-lived pioneer is wanted. Spring flowering is a pollen source for bees and other insects.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height15' - 65'
Width/Spread10' - 25'
Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Flowers in spring, mainly August to November in its native range. The pale yellow rod-like spikes open over several weeks. Seed pods develop through late spring and summer, twisting and coiling as they ripen.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade on sandy and clay-loam soils with reasonable drainage. Water during establishment; established trees tolerate dry periods. As a nitrogen-fixing legume it grows on low-fertility soils without added fertilizer. It regenerates rapidly from seed after disturbance or fire and may self-sow. Borers and gall insects can affect stressed plants. Trees are short-lived, often declining after 15-20 years, and are periodically replaced.Pruning
Remove low and competing branches in the early years to form a single clear trunk. Light pruning shapes young plants, while hard pruning into bare wood reshoots poorly. Remove dead or borer-damaged wood as it appears.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
spring