Acacia linifolia
flax-leaved wattle
Eastern Australia (New South Wales, south-eastern Queensland)
Overview
Acacia linifolia is an evergreen shrub reaching 6-13 feet (2-4 m) tall and 5-10 feet (1.5-3 m) wide, with slender arching branches forming an open rounded canopy. In place of true leaves it bears phyllodes that are narrow and linear, 0.4-1.2 inches (1-3 cm) long and about 0.04 inch (1 mm) wide, resembling flax foliage, mid-green to grey-green and crowded along the stems. Pale cream to pale yellow globular flower heads, each about 0.2 inch (5 mm) across, are carried in long axillary sprays from late summer through autumn into winter. Flowering is followed by flat seed pods 1.5-3 inches (4-7 cm) long that ripen from green to brown. Growth is fast, reaching full height within 3-5 years, and the plant is typically short-lived at 8-15 years. The narrow phyllodes give a soft texture, but the arching stems can become straggly without pruning. Roots form nodules that fix nitrogen. Seed germinates readily after fire or heat, and self-sown seedlings appear in cultivation.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, mainly the coast and ranges of New South Wales around the Sydney basin and north into south-eastern Queensland. Grows in open eucalypt forest and woodland on sandstone-derived soils and along watercourses.Suggested Uses
Planted as a fast screen, windbreak filler, or pioneer shrub in revegetation, spaced 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) apart. Used in bird-attracting and native gardens. The short lifespan suits it to use as a nurse plant among slower, longer-lived species.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 13'
Width/Spread5' - 10'
Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years
Bloom Information
Flowers from late summer through autumn into early winter, later in the season than most Acacia spp. species. Individual heads last about 1 week, and the overall display extends 8-12 weeks. Flowering is heaviest in the second and later years after planting.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pale cream to pale yellowFoliage Description
mid-green to grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-8 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
Plant in full sun to light shade in well-drained sandy or loamy soil; growth thins in deep shade. Water through the first growing season, after which established plants tolerate extended dry periods. Apply only low-phosphorus fertilizer, as Acacia spp. roots are sensitive to high phosphorus. Nitrogen-fixing nodules supply most of the plant nitrogen, so feeding is seldom needed. Borers and stem galls affect stressed plants, and the species is short-lived, declining after 8-15 years.Pruning
Tip-prune after flowering to limit legginess and encourage branching. Cutting back into bare old wood seldom reshoots. Light annual trimming extends the useful life of the open canopy.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter