Acacia longifolia (Sydney Golden Wattle)


Michael's Opinion

An invasive species that produces copious amounts of seed. Living approximately 10-20 years it can be a large shrub, a small tree or a hedge. A tropical tree that provides parrots and other wildlife with a source of food; they consume the seed and pods which are high in protein.

Botanical Information

FamilyFabaceae
GenusAcacia
Specieslongifolia
CategoryTropicals, Woody
TypeTree (evergreen), Shrub (evergreen)
OriginSouth-eastern Australia.
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone9 - 11
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness ZoneRequires cool season protection under glass.
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH4 - H1c
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-7 - 10
Temperature (°F)20 - 50
Height6 - 8 m
Spread4.5 m
GrowthFast
Flowering PeriodFebruary, March, April

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA large shrub or small tree, with spiked flowers that bloom along the branches. Elongated, dark green leaves, that are narrow and have pointed tips. The plant often self layers, where low lying branches touch the ground and root, these layers may be detached and replanted.
ID CharacteristicSydney Golden Wattle has bright spiked yellow flowers that bloom in winter and spring. It has dark green phyllodes with parallel veins that can be as long as 5-20 cm.
ShapeA rather unkempt and loosely formed plant.
LandscapeSydney Golden Wattle can be planted as a hedge, small tree or large shrub, excellent for use in erosion control.
PropagationEasily propagated by seed placed in boiling water for 12-24 hours, (allowing the water to cool during this period) and then sown before the seeds dry out. Seed may be sown at any time of year although spring sown seed seems to yield slightly more significant results. Once seedlings have produced their true leaves they may be pricked off into pots and transplanted according to growth rate. Cutting using half-ripened lateral shoots in mix of equal parts sand and peat/compost and placed in a heated greenhouse under moist shade; cuttings are slow to root. Selected plants can also be approached grafted onto A. retinoides seed raised stock that is 18-24 months old and about 30 cm in height. Once the graft has taken remove the top growth from the under stock the following spring.
CultivationPrefers sandy and clay soils with a pH level of 5.5-7 with full sun. Frost tolerant.
PestsNo major pests or diseases but may have problems with gall wasps.
Notable SpecimensLos Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, California, United States of America. Desert Botanical Garden, Arizona, United States of America.
HabitatRiver and marsh edges in sunny locations.
Bark/Stem DescriptionThe bark has a smooth texture, is greyish-brown with the branches angling towards the apices.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionThe buds are small, greenish-yellow, globular clusters on inflorescence. The inflorescence can be as long as 2-10 mm and can contain as many as 6-20 globular clusters. Robust, waxy, stout and sparely hairy or smooth.
Leaf DescriptionThe leaves are known as phyllodes. The bright green phyllodes can get up to 5-20 cm long. The leaves have 2 prominent veins and are narrowly elliptic in shape, alternating along the branches.
Flower DescriptionBright, yellow, rod shaped flowers, bloom heavily in winter and early spring. The flower stalks can be as long as 3-6 mm, appearing along the branches producing 40-80 flowers and on each branch.
Fruit DescriptionSeed pods are 50-130 mm long and 5-7 mm wide. The pods split open when ripe and will reveal a row of hard, dark brown seeds. The seeds can be viable for up to 50 years.
Colour DescriptionDark green leaves, bright yellow flowers with a greyish- brown bark. The seeds pods are a dark brown and the buds are greenish-yellow.
Texture DescriptionCoarse.

Photographs