Acacia pycnantha

Fabaceae

Golden Wattle

Evergreen large shrub or small pendulous tree, 5-8m tall, with masses of globular, scented, golden flowers in late winter or early spring. Australia's national emblem. Can be short lived.

Uses

Attractive specimen shrub or tree, especially popular in Australian native gardens. Also used in roadside plantings and rehabilitation sites. Bird and bee attractive; fixes nitrogen in the soil.

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Culture

Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Grows well in temperate, subtropical and semi-arid areas. Tolerates dry conditions and heavy frost but needs frost protection when young.

Propagation

Propagate from seed; immerse seed in just boiled water and leave for at least 12 hours. Fertile (swollen) seeds must be sown immediately. Plant seedlings into the landscape when they are at least 15 cm tall. Fertilise lightly with blood and bone when planting.

Cultivars

The following are two natural adaptations of the species:

A. p. var. pycnantha

A. p. var. petiolaris

Plant Health

Major pests are borers and gall wasps.

More info

Book: ‘The Native Plant Expert’ by John Mason is available through http://www.acsgarden.com/shop/ Courses and videos on Australian Natives and Home Landscaping, and Plant Propagation available from Australian Correspondence Schools, see www.acs.edu.au/hort