Acacia ulicifolia
juniper wattle
Overview
Acacia ulicifolia is a wiry, prickly shrub growing 0.5-2.5 m (1.5-8 ft) tall, with an erect to spreading habit. In place of true leaves it bears rigid, needle-like phyllodes 0.5-1.5 cm (0.2-0.6 in) long, each terete and tipped with a sharp point. Pale yellow to cream globular flower heads, about 0.6 cm (0.25 in) across, are borne singly on slender stalks in the phyllode axils through late winter and spring. Each head packs many tiny flowers. Curved or coiled flat seed pods 3-6 cm (1.2-2.4 in) long follow, holding several seeds. The species grows in dry sclerophyll forest, heath, and woodland on sandy or stony well-drained soils. As a legume it fixes nitrogen through root nodules. Limitation: the sharp phyllodes make the shrub awkward to handle, and the plant is relatively short-lived, often declining after several years.
Native Range
Eastern and southeastern Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Tasmania. It grows in dry sclerophyll forest, heath, and woodland on well-drained sandy or stony soils.Suggested Uses
Grown in native and bushland gardens, on dry banks, and in revegetation as a prickly habitat shrub that gives small birds shelter. It suits informal screening and erosion control on sandy slopes.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'6" - 8'
Width/Spread1'6" - 6'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pale yellow to creamFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 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