Intermediate
skill rating
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Acacia pycnantha (Golden wattle)
2 hours care
per year
per year
8m
Max height
Max height
6m
Max spread
Max spread
20-50 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Acacia pycnantha
Other names
Golden wattle
Genus
Acacia Acacia
Species
A. pycnantha - A. pycnantha is a compact, rounded to spreading, often short-lived, borderline hardy, evergreen tree with glossy, flattened, sickle-shaped, dark green leaf stalks resembling leaves. Racemes of fragrant, spherical, golden-yellow flowers with long stamens bloom from late winter to late spring or early summer. Flowers are followed by long, green seed pods ripening brown.
Acacia pycnantha is: Evergreen
Habit
Rounded, Spreading
Toxicity
Seeds may cause discomfort if ingested unless cooked or heated.
Flower
Golden-yellow in Spring; Golden-yellow in Winter
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest free.
Specific pests
Mealybugs , Glasshouse red spider mite , Scale insects Mealybugs , Glasshouse red spider mite , Scale insects
Diseases
Generally disease free.
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 8.
Propagation
Soak seed in hot water prior to sowing. Sow seed at 25C in early spring.
Propagation methods
Seed
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Where to grow
Acacia pycnantha (Golden wattle) will reach a height of 8m and a spread of 6m after 20-50 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Bees (attract & feed bees), City, Drought Tolerant, Specimen tree, Wind-breaker
Cultivation
Best in poor, well-drained, neutral to acid, sandy loam in sun. Drought tolerant once established. Will be chlorotic on alkaline soil. Acacia pycnantha is the official floral emblem of Australia. Considered invasive in many introduced areas including South Africa, Western Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales, Portugal, and California.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Acacia pycnantha
Other names
Golden wattle
Genus
Acacia Acacia
Species
A. pycnantha - A. pycnantha is a compact, rounded to spreading, often short-lived, borderline hardy, evergreen tree with glossy, flattened, sickle-shaped, dark green leaf stalks resembling leaves. Racemes of fragrant, spherical, golden-yellow flowers with long stamens bloom from late winter to late spring or early summer. Flowers are followed by long, green seed pods ripening brown.
Native to
Australia
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Rounded, Spreading
Toxicity
Seeds may cause discomfort if ingested unless cooked or heated.
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Colour
Flower
Golden-yellow in Spring; Golden-yellow in Winter
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest free.
Specific pests
Mealybugs , Glasshouse red spider mite , Scale insects
Diseases
Generally disease free.
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 8.
Propagation
Soak seed in hot water prior to sowing. Sow seed at 25C in early spring.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Acacia pycnantha (Golden wattle) will reach a height of 8m and a spread of 6m after 20-50 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Bees (attract & feed bees), City, Drought Tolerant, Specimen tree, Wind-breaker
Cultivation
Best in poor, well-drained, neutral to acid, sandy loam in sun. Drought tolerant once established. Will be chlorotic on alkaline soil. Acacia pycnantha is the official floral emblem of Australia. Considered invasive in many introduced areas including South Africa, Western Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales, Portugal, and California.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Clay, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
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