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Acacia verticillata

prickly moses

Fabaceae South-eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Acacia verticillata is a prickly shrub or small tree in the family Fabaceae, growing 3-16 feet (1-5 m) tall, with an open to dense, spreading habit. In place of true leaves it carries stiff, narrow, sharp-pointed phyllodes 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) long, arranged in whorls around the stems, giving the plant a needle-like, prickly texture. From late winter into spring it produces pale yellow flower spikes 0.6-1.6 inches (1.5-4 cm) long, cylindrical and rod-like rather than the round balls of many wattles, set along the branches. Flat, narrow seed pods follow. It grows in open forest, woodland, heath, and damp gullies across south-eastern Australia, from New South Wales through Victoria and Tasmania to South Australia, on a range of soils including damp and sandy ground. As a legume it fixes nitrogen through root nodules and establishes quickly on disturbed sites. It tolerates damp soil, wind, and coastal exposure, and reshoots after fire. Growth is fast but the plant is relatively short-lived, often declining after ten to fifteen years. The sharp phyllodes make the shrub difficult to handle, and it can become dense and twiggy with age.

Native Range

Acacia verticillata is native to south-eastern Australia, from New South Wales through Victoria and Tasmania to South Australia. It grows in open forest, woodland, heath, and damp gullies on a range of soils, including sandy and seasonally damp ground.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a screen, windbreak, and habitat shrub in native, coastal, and revegetation plantings, where the dense prickly growth shelters small birds. It suits damp and sandy sites and quick cover on disturbed ground. The sharp foliage forms a barrier where access needs limiting.

How to Identify

Recognised by stiff, narrow, sharp-pointed phyllodes in whorls around the stems and pale yellow cylindrical, rod-like flower spikes in late winter and spring. The needle-like whorled phyllodes and rod-shaped flowers separate it from ball-flowered wattles. Flat narrow pods follow the flowers.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 16'

Width/Spread5' - 13'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Pale yellow cylindrical flower spikes open from late winter into spring, roughly July to October in the native range. The rod-like spikes are set along the branches. Flat seed pods develop through late spring and summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay

Drainageaverage

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 in full sun to part shade in most soils, including damp and sandy ground, with reasonable drainage. Water during establishment, after which the plant tolerates seasonal damp and short dry spells. As a nitrogen-fixing legume it needs no feeding and is sensitive to high phosphorus. Light frost, wind, and coastal exposure are tolerated once established. The plant grows fast but is short-lived, often declining after ten to fifteen years. Replacement plants are set out as older shrubs fade.

Pruning

Tip prune after flowering to keep the shrub dense and limit twiggy, open growth. Light, regular trimming is easier than hard cutting, given the sharp phyllodes. The plant reshoots from cut stems but old specimens respond poorly to heavy renewal pruning.