Paraserianthes lophantha (Plume Albizia)

Paraserianthes spp.

crested wattle

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Paraserianthes spp. is a genus of evergreen trees and large shrubs in the family Fabaceae, native to Australia and Indonesia, with P. lophantha the most familiar species. The plants grow quickly to 15 to 30 feet (4.5 to 9 m), forming a spreading canopy on one or several trunks. The leaves are bipinnate and fern-like, 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) long, divided into many small green leaflets that fold partly at night. From late winter into spring, dense cylindrical spikes 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 8 cm) long carry many small cream to pale yellow flowers made up mostly of long stamens. Flattened brown pods 2 to 5 inches (5 to 13 cm) long follow, holding several hard seeds. As with other legumes, the roots fix nitrogen and let the trees grow on poor soils. The genus grows in full sun on a wide range of well-drained soils and tolerates wind, coastal exposure, and short dry spells once established. Growth is fast but the wood is brittle and the trees are short-lived, often declining within fifteen to twenty years. P. lophantha self-seeds heavily and has naturalized as a weed outside its native range in parts of Australia, New Zealand, and southern Africa.

Native Range

Paraserianthes spp. is native to southwestern and eastern Australia and to parts of Indonesia. The trees grow in coastal scrub, open forest, and disturbed ground on a range of well-drained soils.

Suggested Uses

Paraserianthes spp. is grown as a fast screen, shade tree, and shelter or nurse plant on poor soils in warm climates. The winter-to-spring flowers support bees and birds. Because it self-seeds heavily, it is used in contained settings rather than near bushland where it can naturalize.

How to Identify

Look for fast-growing evergreen trees with fern-like bipinnate leaves divided into many small leaflets that partly fold at night. Dense cylindrical spikes of cream to pale yellow flowers, made up largely of long stamens, appear from late winter into spring. Flat brown seed pods 2 to 5 inches (5 to 13 cm) long confirm the genus.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height15' - 30'

Width/Spread15' - 25'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Winter Spring

Flowering occurs from late winter into spring, roughly July to October in the southern hemisphere native range. The cream to pale yellow flowers form cylindrical bottlebrush-like spikes and draw bees and birds. Flattened pods follow and ripen through summer, splitting to scatter seed.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream to pale yellow

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 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 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Paraserianthes spp. grows in full sun on most well-drained soils, including sandy and low-fertility ground where its nitrogen-fixing roots support growth. It tolerates wind, coastal salt, and short dry spells once established but is damaged by hard frost. Growth is rapid, so plants reach flowering size within a few years, though the brittle wood breaks in storms and the trees are short-lived. Heavy self-seeding calls for removal of seedlings where the species is not wanted, as it spreads readily beyond plantings. Little feeding is needed given the roots fix their own nitrogen.

Pruning

Formative pruning when young builds a stronger framework and reduces later limb breakage in the brittle wood. Dead or damaged branches can be removed at any time. Cutting back spent flower spikes before pods form limits the heavy crop of self-sown seed.

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown

Tree