Callicoma spp.

black wattle

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Callicoma spp. is a genus in the family Cunoniaceae represented by a single species, Callicoma serratifolia, an evergreen shrub or small tree of moist eastern Australian forest. It grows 15-50 feet (5-15 m) tall with a slender, often multi-stemmed trunk and a spreading crown. The opposite leaves are lance-shaped, 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, with sharply serrated margins, glossy dark green above and pale to silvery-felted beneath. From spring it carries rounded cream to pale-yellow flower heads about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across, made up of many long stamens, which resemble the blossom of a true wattle and give the plant its common name of black wattle, although it is not related to Acacia spp.. Small dry capsules follow and split to release small seed. Callicoma spp. grows along creek banks and in sheltered gullies on moist, fertile soil and is sensitive to hard frost and prolonged drought, which restricts it to mild, reliably moist sites. Its bark was used historically to lash timber-framed huts in early colonial New South Wales.

Native Range

Callicoma serratifolia is endemic to eastern Australia, from eastern Victoria through New South Wales into south-eastern Queensland. It grows in wet sclerophyll forest and rainforest margins, typically along creek lines and in moist, sheltered gullies.

Suggested Uses

Callicoma serratifolia is used as a screen, creek-bank planting, and small specimen tree in moist gardens within warm-temperate and subtropical regions. It suits revegetation and streambank stabilisation in its native range. Its frost-sensitivity and need for steady moisture limit its use in cold or dry gardens.

How to Identify

Look for opposite, lance-shaped leaves with sharply toothed edges, glossy dark green above and conspicuously pale or silvery underneath, on a shrub or small tree near water. Rounded cream to pale-yellow flower heads of many slender stamens appear in spring and look like wattle blossom. Unlike true wattles, the leaves are simple and toothed rather than feathery or reduced to phyllodes.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height15' - 50'

Width/Spread10' - 20'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering occurs mainly in spring and early summer, around September to December in the southern hemisphere. The cream flower heads open over three to five weeks and are visited by insects. Dry seed capsules develop through summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Cream to pale yellow

Foliage Description

Glossy dark green above, pale silvery beneath

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

5-10 years to flowering size

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun to part shade on moist, fertile, free-draining soil and need reliable moisture at the roots, especially when young. They suit warm-temperate and subtropical zones (about USDA 9-11) and are damaged by hard frost. A position sheltered from drying wind and a mulched, evenly moist root zone support steady growth. Young plants can be cut back to build a denser, multi-stemmed habit. Established trees tolerate brief waterlogging along creek banks but decline in prolonged drought.

Pruning

Pruning is light and aimed at shape. Stems can be shortened after flowering to hold a compact, multi-stemmed form, and dead or crossing branches can be removed at any time. The species regrows readily from the base if cut hard.