Acacia Tree: Growing Tips and Types

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acacia tree

Do you know that Acacia Tree has about 23 popular species that you can choose from?

Acacia trees and shrubs are a part of the Acacia genus, Fabaceae, legume family, and Mimosoideae subfamily.

Moreover, it has more than 1300  species and varieties around the world, and about 1,000 of these are native to Australia.

Although some of the species tend to regroup into four other genera in 2005.

You can find this plant in Africa, Europe, Asia, and North and South America.

While acacia tends to be long-lived and fast-growing trees, these will have deep roots that help them to thrive under dry, drought conditions.

Acacia have a variety of landscape uses as well and most tend to have clusters of flowers that are yellow or cream in color.

Keep on reading to learn more about Acacia Tree.

Acacia Tree

An Acacia tree is a fast-growing tree, however, they only live about 20 to 30 years.

A number of varieties are popular for their long roots which help them to stabilize in areas that may have threats of erosion.

Moreover, the sturdy roots tend to reach deep into underground water. which is why they have the ability to tolerate drought conditions.

Petioles tend to appear on some trees that are parts of the stem that attach the leaves to the branch.

When they form, they are phyllodes.

It is important to note that that plant may start out with real leaves that change into phyllodes as it tends to mature.

While other species can have modified stems: cladode.

On the species that do have true leaves, the leaves in pinnately compound which mean that they consist of a row of leaflets around the central stem.

acacia tree 1

Note: Some species of this plant tend to include a psychoactive alkaloid in the leaves, seed pots, flowers, or stems.

This agent is known as DMT, i.e. dimethyltryptamine. It is a powerful but short-lived hallucinogen that has been used for spiritual purposes in the past by indigenous people.

Species like Acacia maiden, Acacia phlebophylla, and Acacia obtusifolia have this substance.

Accidental ingestion to the point that it produces psychoactive effects is very rare.

However, experts suggest that you should always be cautious not to breathe the smoke when burning the brush that contains this plant.

Furthermore, some species can have modified stems or thorns which can be useful for preventing access in certain locations.

Thus, if you choose a thorny variety, make sure to place them away from high-traffic areas.

Acacia Tree: Growing Conditions ad Care

This tree will need full sunlight and tends to grow in all types of soil including clay, sand, or soil that is either highly alkaline or acidic.

Though these trees prefer well-draining soil, they can also tolerate muddy soil for short periods of time.

One of the important things to note about the acacia tree is that it can tolerate all kinds of growing conditions.

Although a young tree will need protection from wildlife while it is developing its defense system.

With the help of orchid fertilizer, the plant will benefit from it during the first year, every 3 to 4 weeks.

After this, you can feed the tree a general-purpose fertilizer once every year.

acacia tree 2

However, it is not an absolute requirement of the tree. This tree will need little to no water as it is resistant to drought.

Furthermore, acacia trees will need occasional pruning during dry months or winter.

Make sure to avoid pruning leafy, green areas, and trim only dead growth on the tree.

Another important thing to note is that in some cases the acacia tree can suffer from fungal diseases like anthracnose, though it is disease resistant plant.

Also, look out for pests like aphids, thrips, mites, and scales on this tree.

Learn more about Harvesting Tips here.

Common Species of Acacia Tree

Some common acacia tree species are:

Acacia Koa: This one is native to the Hawaiian Islands and is the most common tree in the states.

Also known as Hawaiian mahogany, the tree is valued for making guitars, surfboards, and outrigger canes.

Moreover, mature trees tend to be a habitat for local birds and insects.

Another closely related species is Acacia Koaia or koaiʻa or koaiʻe, these are very similar.

However, some botanists classify them as the same species.

  • Native Area: Hawaii
  • USDA Growing zones: 11
  • Height: 100 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun; may tolerate partial shade

Creeping Wattle or Acacia saligna: Also known as Blue leaf wattle, it is a large shrub, single-trucked tree, or multi-stemmed tree.

This species tends to have phyllodes instead of leaves and can become invasive as the seeds are pollinated by ants and birds.

These move them to a new location where the seeds can easily sprout.

  • Native Area: Western Australia
  • USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 12
  • Height: 15 to 30 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

Box Leaf Wattle or Acacia buxifolia: The phyllodes on this shrub are just like that of the boxwoods, i.e. Buxus spp.

Moreover, it is one of the hardier species of acacia, that has the ability to tolerate temperatures below 19 degrees F.

  • Native Area: Eastern Australia
  • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 11
  • Height: 3 to 13 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

longifolia

Coastal Wattle or Acacia longifolia: Also known as Sydney golden wattle, it has the ability to tolerate salt and drought, and you can use it to create a living fence.

Moreover, you can also make green and yellow dyes from its seeds and flowers.

However, in some areas, it can become invasive.

  • Native Area: Southeastern Australia
  • USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11
  • Height: 12 to 18 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Flax-Leaf attle or Acacia linifolia: Popular as White wattle this shrub tends to have phyllodes just like that of flax leaves.

The flowers are of crema or light yellow color and can appear in both summer, from December to march in Southern Hemisphere, and Winter from June to September.

  • Native Area: Eastern Australia
  • USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11
  • Height: 4 to 15 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Green Wattle or Acacia decurrens: You can consume or eat gum from this plant and use it in jellies as well.

Moreover, the flowers of this species are edible and many use them for tanning leather.

In South Africa, experts consider it invasive and also popular by the nickname “green cancer”.

While people also call it early black wattle.

  • Native Area: New South Wales, Australia
  • USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11
  • Height: 10 to 50 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

Juniper Wattle or Acacia ulicifolia: Popular as prickly Moses, this species tends to be a thorny one that you can use as a privacy hedge.

The flowers of this tree can either be cream or white.

The name “ulicifolia” suggests that phyllodes on this shrub as just like those on the leaves of gorse, i.e. Ulex.

It was also known as Acacia junipernia, in the past.

  • Native Area: Australia
  • USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 11
  • Height: 1 to 15 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to light shade

Other Common Species

Other common species of acacia tree are:

Kangaroo Thorn or Acacia paradoxa: You can this species as a hedge due to its thorny stem that inhibits passes.

This plant is also popular as prickly wattle or hedge wattle in some regions and thrives well in coastal areas as it can tolerate salty conditions.

Moreover, this plant is invasive in areas like Australia, South Africa, and California.

While you can find its name as Acacia armata, Racosperma armata, or Mimosa paradoxa.

Late Flowering Black Wattle or Acacia concurrens: This one either grows as a tall shrub or a small tree.

While its long spikes of bright yellow ball-shaped flowers appear in winter and spring.

In the past, this plant was categorized as Acacia cunninghammi.

Lightwood or Acacia implaexa: Also popular as hickory wattle, is a long-lived tree that has rough greyish bark and twisted seed pods.

Moreover, it can either grow as a single-trunk or multiple-trunk tree and can also colonize into groves by spreading through suckers.

It is just like blackwood, i.e. acacia melanoxylon, and is also known as a hickory tree.

However, it is not a true type of as, as they belong to the Carya genus.

You can use the wood of lightwood to make furniture.

Myrtle Walle or Acacia myrtifolia: A fast-growing, small to medium size medium shrub.

myrtifolia

Its name indicates that the phyllodes of myrtle wattle are like that of myrtle and the flowers are light yellow or white.

It also features red stems which helps to add color to your yard throughout the entire year.

That is why it is also called red-stemmed wattle.

Ovens Wattle or Acacia pravissima: An extremely fast-growing shurb or small with a weeping habit.

This makes it particularly striking when bright yellow blooms cover the plant.

In some cases, gardeners also call is wedge-leaves wattle.

Moreover, this species also received an award Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.

Prickly Moses or Acacia verticillata: This one is a fast-growing shrub that you can also train to be a small tree.

Prickly Moses tends to have sharp phyllodes that will form around the stems in whorls.

The name Moses derives from the name mimosa, not the biblical figure, however.

Some other common species are prostrate acacia, red-leaf wattle, silver wattle, snowy river wattle, spreading wattle, spike wattle, stiff-leaf wattle, sweet wattle, tree mulga, and weeping myall.

Final Thoughts

USDA growing zones 7 and higher are hardy for acacia trees and shrubs, while if you want to plant them in your garden, you should learn about their botanical names.

Almost all of these go by different common names and you can find them under the genus of Vachellia. These plant love to thrive in hot, dry conditions that are long-lived. Gardeners consider them invasive in the United States and other countries, therefore make sure to check with your local agricultural authorities before planting them in your landscape.

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