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Acacia gunnii

ploughshare wattle

Fabaceae Southeastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Acacia gunnii is a low, often prostrate, prickly evergreen shrub growing 4-16 inches (10-40 cm) tall and spreading 12-32 inches (30-80 cm) wide, forming a wiry, ground-hugging mat. In place of leaves it carries small, stiff phyllodes 0.2-0.5 inch (5-12 mm) long, triangular and asymmetrical with a sharp point, their shape giving rise to the ploughshare name. Pale yellow to cream globular flower heads about 0.2 inch (5-6 mm) across are borne singly in the phyllode axils from late autumn through winter into early spring. Short, narrow seed pods follow and split to release seed. The species grows in heath, dry sclerophyll woodland, and rocky ground across southeastern Australia on sandy and gravelly soils. It tolerates poor soil and short drought but is small and easily overgrown by taller plants. The prickly phyllodes and ground-hugging habit make it a low barrier or rock-garden plant rather than a feature shrub. As a legume it fixes nitrogen and can knit together poor, stony ground.

Native Range

Acacia gunnii is native to southeastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Tasmania. It grows in heath, dry woodland, and rocky ground on sandy and gravelly soils.

Suggested Uses

Planted in rock gardens, native and heath plantings, and as low prickly cover on dry, stony banks. Used for nitrogen-fixing cover and small-bird habitat. Spaced 16-24 inches (40-60 cm) apart for a low mat.

How to Identify

Small, stiff, triangular phyllodes 0.2-0.5 inch (5-12 mm) long with a sharp point spread from wiry, ground-hugging stems. Pale yellow to cream globular flower heads about 0.2 inch (5-6 mm) across sit singly in the phyllode axils in the cooler months. The ploughshare-shaped phyllodes and prostrate habit separate it from upright wattles with narrow or feathery foliage.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 1'4"

Width/Spread1' - 2'8"

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Fall Winter Spring

Pale yellow to cream globular flower heads open from late autumn through winter into early spring, set singly in the phyllode axils. The heads are small and scattered over the low mat rather than massed. Short seed pods follow in spring.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Pale yellow to cream

Foliage Description

Green (phyllodes)

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 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Acacia gunnii grows in full sun to light shade in well-drained sandy or gravelly soil and tolerates poor, stony ground. Established plants handle short drought, while sharp drainage prevents the root rot that follows wet soil. Cold hardiness covers light to moderate frost, roughly USDA zones 8-10. As a legume it fixes its own nitrogen and needs no feeding. Plants are small and slow, so they are kept clear of vigorous neighbors that would shade them out.

Pruning

A light trim after flowering keeps the low mat dense and removes spent flowering wood. Plants tolerate shaping but recover slowly from cuts into bare old stems. No routine heavy pruning is undertaken.

Pruning Schedule

early spring