Description
Acacia dealbata, commonly known as Silver Wattle or Blue Wattle, is a species of tree or shrub in the pea family Fabaceae. It is native to southeastern Australia, but it is widely cultivated and naturalized in many other parts of the world. It has a distinctive silver-blue foliage and fragrant yellow flowers that bloom in the late winter and early spring. Acacia dealbata is known for its fast growth rate and can make an attractive and effective screen, it’s also used as an ornamental tree or as a shade tree. It prefers well-drained soils, full sun and can tolerate drought once established.
Key Facts
- Common Name(s):Mimosa
- Hardiness:Half hardy and would benefit from protection through Winter.
- How big will I get? Acacia dealbata can grow to a height of 10m and a spread of 4m.
- Did You Know That:The species name “dealbata” means “whitened” or “having a white or frosty appearance”, referring to the white, powdery coating on the leaves of the tree?
Plant Calendar
A rough guide to how this plant will change through the year.
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Care Guide
Soil Requirements
Acacia dealbata prefers soil with good drainage and does not tolerate standing water. This plant is not tolerant of alkaline soil, it requires either a neutral or acidic soil to grow.
Best Position
Acacia dealbata prefers a sheltered position and requires full sun to thrive, this consists of more than six hours of direct sunshine per day.
Maintenance
Acacia dealbata need very little pruning once established and can be left alone other than removing any damaged foliage or branches. Young Acacia can be trained into trees with beautiful clear stems over a number of years by slowly removing any sideshoots in the bottom third yearly and having the length of the side shoots from the middle section of the tree. This can be followed until the plant is mature and has reached a desired height.
Pest, Diseases and Wildlife
Acacia dealbata can have problems with mealybugs, and it tends not to have problems with diseases. It is also known to attract bees and other pollinators.
