Acacia mearnsii
Black Wattle
Acacias, or wattles, are shrubs and trees that belong to the pea family. They are evergreen plants grown for their attractive foliage and bright yellow scented blooms. The genus varies in size from small shrubs, ideal for containers, to large trees of 10m or more in height. Acacia mearnsii is fast-growing and extremely invasive. It is a leguminous tree, native to Australia, where it used for preventing soil erosion, as green manure (for its nitrogen-fixing qualities), the wood is useful for construction, and for burning, and the bark is useful as a source of tannins. It bears dark green feathery leaves, and globular heads of pale yellow, fragrant flowers from early Spring to late Summer, followed by finely hairy dark brown pods
Contributed by @kimberleyrolfe
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Full sun
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Occasional watering
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A little frost hardy: 32F (0°C)
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Free draining and fertile
Common name
Black Wattle
Latin name
Acacia mearnsii
type
Tree
family
Fabaceae
ph
5.0 - 7.0 Acid - Neutral
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Light
Full sun
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Frost
A little frost hardy: 32F (0°C)
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Soil
Free draining and fertile
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Water
Occasional watering
Plant & bloom calendar
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Best time to plant
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When the plant will bloom
full grown dimensions
8.00 M
10.00 M
Acacia mearnsii
Acacias, or wattles, are shrubs and trees that belong to the pea family. They are evergreen plants grown for their attractive foliage and bright yellow scented blooms. The genus varies in size from small shrubs, ideal for containers, to large trees of 10m or more in height. Acacia mearnsii is fast-growing and extremely invasive. It is a leguminous tree, native to Australia, where it used for preventing soil erosion, as green manure (for its nitrogen-fixing qualities), the wood is useful for construction, and for burning, and the bark is useful as a source of tannins. It bears dark green feathery leaves, and globular heads of pale yellow, fragrant flowers from early Spring to late Summer, followed by finely hairy dark brown pods
Flowering
From Mid Winter TO Mid Summer
Acacia can flower as early as mid Winter in mild weather, and go on flowering until mid Spring
Planting
From Early Spring TO Early Summer
Plant container grown plants in a sunny, sheltered, position, in acid soils that are free draining.
Propagating by cuttings
From Late Summer TO Early Autumn
Semi hard wood cuttings are taken from the current years growth from late summer to mid autumn the bottom of the cuttings is hard and soft on the top. With a sharp knife take a cutting of about 14cms, remove lowest leaves, dip end into rooting hormone, and place round the edge of a pot filled with a suitable compost, water well, they must remain moist till rooted, place under glass but in semi shade.
kimberleyrolfe