Our Favorite Acacias
Acacias are easily grown trees native to Australia where
they are known as Wattles. Almost all acacia make good
container plants inside and all can be raised outside in warmer
climates. Below are some of our favorites:
SF273 Acacia Arabica
Acacia arabica has the local name of Babul and is commonly found in dry forest areas. It is commonly found in India particularly in Punjab, Rajasthan and Southern states of India.
The tree is covered in fragrant yellow flowers and is an ornamental plant.
It occurs wild in India and tropical Africa. The bark of babul tree contains tannin and gallic acid. The leaves and fruits of the tree also contain tannin and gallic acid. The various parts of babul tree is useful in diarrhoea. The bark of the babul tree is useful in the treatment of eczema.
Zone 9 and higher outside.
2180 Earleaf Acacia ( Acacia
auriculiformis )
Fast growing small tree to 95
feet and 2 feet thick. Has flat, 8" leaves, short
spikes of flowers and much-twisted pods. N.
Australia, New Guinea. Excellent for tropical
reforestation. It has been known to grow 19 feet in 2
years, and 55 feet in 8 years. Fast growing even in
poor clay or sand soils. Builds soils by fixing
nitrogen, and can smother Imperata grass. Produces up
to 20 cubic meters of firewood or pulpwood per
hectare per year. Stands soil ranging from pH 9.0 to
3.0, and rainfall from arid to 8 feet per year.
Exudes a clear gum with unusual properties which may
become economically valuable. Zone 10 and higher.
LET820 Sweet Acacia ( Acacia smallii )
Sweet Acacia is currently one of the most popular residential trees being planted across the southern states, and for many good reasons! Its compact size and tolerance of ridiculous heat and poor soil make it useful for almost any situation; residential, commercial or otherwise. The real reason for this tree's popularity, however, is the abundant display of extremely fragrant, golden yellow puffballs in early spring.
Hardy to zone 7.
D1164 Golden Mimosa ( Acacia baileyana )
Small graceful tree well
adapted to growing inside. Has such a profusion of beautiful flowers that they seem to cover the
entire plant. Cold hardy to 18 degrees outside. Good greenhouse/container plant that can be raised
inside anywhere or outside in zones 8-10.
Image: By Acacia_dealbata_tree_1.jpg: Certo Xornal from Ribeira, Galicia, Españaderivative work: Berichard (Acacia_dealbata_tree_1.jpg) [
CC BY 2.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
IP128 Silver Wattle ( Acacia dealbata )
This beautiful small evergreen tree from Australia is smothered with masses of exceptionally fine silver-grey, delicate foliage which is topped with fluffy, pale lemon, sweetly scented flowers in late winter and early spring. It is best grown in milder gardens in a sunny spot and free-draining soil and is very fast-growing once established and ideal for exotic gardens.
Pompom yellow mimosa flowers are produced on this evergreen tree against a backdrop of feathery foliage. In spring the scented, nectar-rich blooms provide a valuable source of food for bees and other insects. In mild climates, Acacia dealbata plants can be grown outdoors, making a brilliant specimen for sheltered borders.
It has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Ideal for patio, greenhouse, conservatory, scented gardens, wildlife gardens, low maintenance gardens.
Good greenhouse/container plant that can be raised inside anywhere or outside in zones 7-10.
H901 Wattle Bark ( Acacia decurrens )
The bark of this beautiful tree is used to make a decoction that
is useful for diarrhea, sore throats and as a gargle. Even without its medical properties, this tree should be in
everyone's yard for its ornamental value. Zones 8-10
D2932 Perfume Acacia ( Acacia farnesiana )
Highly prized for the beautiful, fragrant flowers and feathery, finely divided leaflets of a soft, medium green color. It is a small tree or large shrub, that is easily container grown in tubs. It also makes a wonderful hedge plant that will make a protective barrier with it's thorns.
A beautiful shrub that flowers profusely. The flowers are so fragrant, they are used to make perfume in France, especially on the Riviera. You should have this plant in your garden. Good greenhouse/container plant that can be
raised inside anywhere or outside in zones 8-10.
D7811 Blackwood Acacia ( Acacia melanoxylon )
A very quick-growing upright tree to 40 feet tall or much more with about a 20 feet width and, in maturity, an oval shaped crown. It has rough dark gray bark with vertical fissures and mid-green leaf-like flattened stems, called "phyllodes", that are 3 to 5 inches long by about an inch wide, with one margin straight and the other slightly curved.
Small creamy white flowers are in a small ball-like cluster from late winter into spring and are followed by thin curling seed pods that hang in brownish sheaves. Plant in full sun to light shade in soil with fairly good drainage. Hardy to 15-20 degrees F and tolerant of heat, alkalinity and coastal conditions. A durable tree for quick growth, screening and erosion control. While useful for screeding, its aggressive roots can lift sidewalks, damage foundations and plumbing and together with leaf, seed pod and branch litter and its propensity to sucker and reseed, so it is not ideal for street plantings.
It was highly recommended for street tree plantings in California prior to the 1940s, so it is still fairly commonly seen and in Southern California is not seen as an invasive plant. This tree comes from coastal areas of southeastern Australia where it grows from sea level to 3,500 feet in solitary stands in cool temperate rainforests or as an understory to larger Eucalyptus.
TRN677 Sweet Thorn ( Acacia karroo )
This small to medium, rather short-lived tree has a rounded crown to about 30 feet tall with finely pinnate leaves, long, white thorns and masses of yellow flowers in small, spherical heads, followed by narrow, flat pods. It is widely distributed in various types of savannas in southern Africa on sandy soils.
It makes a beautiful, drought tolerant ornamental for dry tropical and some warm temperate climates.
As is common in acacias, edible gum seeps from cracks in the tree's bark, and is an important part of the bushbaby's winter diet. The gum can be used to manufacture candy (see Gum arabic) and used to have economic importance as "Cape Gum". In dry areas, the tree's presence is a sign of water, both above and underground.
The tree is especially useful as forage and fodder for domestic and wild animals. Apparently, there is no risk of poisoning from it. Goats seem to like V. karroo better than cattle. The small pom-pom shaped yellow flowers are attractive in mid-summer. The flowers make it a very good source of forage for honey bees; honey from it has a pleasant taste.
Zone 9 or higher.
LET821 Goldenwreath Wattle ( Acacia saligna )
A fast growing small tree to about 20 feet wit a spreading crown,
pendulous reddish branches, and blue-green long curved leaves. Named for it's bright yellow to orange flower heads in later
winter-spring that are used to make natural wreaths. Zones 9-11.
D9640 Gum Arabic ( Acacia senegal )
Few people know that this tree produces the flavoring for most popular soda
pops including the top two sellers. Besides that, it is a beautiful tree with a flatten crown and attractive grey-green foliage.
Will grow to 30' outside or can be container raised inside. Good greenhouse/container plant that can be raised inside anywhere or outside in zones 8-10.
2189 Umbrella Thorn ( Acacia tortilis )
Very fragrant white to pale yellow flowers, on a small tree growing to 25 ft. or more
with an umbrella shaped crown. Has spiny branches, seed pods are tightly spiraled. The flower clusters of this tree are most unusual as
they hang down from the canopy in large balls. Pick one of these balls and carry it into a room and it will fill the room with a sweet perfume fragrance.
Does very well in arid climates, hardy to 18 degrees.