Crop Rotation Group
Legumes (Pea and Bean family)
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Soil
Fertile, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
No, acacias are semi-tropical plants. They can tolerate occasional light frost, but not hard freezes.
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Feeding
None generally needed. Once established, acacias fix their own nitrogen.
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Companions
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Spacing
Single Plants: 19' 8" (6.00m) each way (minimum)
Rows: 19' 8" (6.00m) with 19' 8" (6.00m) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
With patience, acacias can be started from seed in early spring. To coax the hard seeds to life, place them in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to soak overnight before planting the seeds ½ inch (1.5 cm) deep. Or, save growing time by setting out purchased plants in winter or spring. Container-grown plants can be transplanted until early summer but may shed some leaves if set out under stressful conditions. Water young plants during droughts their first season after planting. Once established, acacias require very little supplemental water.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
In home landscapes, acacia is typically grown as a specimen tree that grows to 10 to 30 feet (3 to 8 m) tall. The official floral emblem of Australia, the acacia known as golden wattle covers itself with fragrant yellow blossoms in early spring. An excellent little tree for small landscapes, golden wattle also supports several native insects. In North America, native sweet acacia is popular in arid, semi-tropical areas of the southwest because of its ability to thrive with little water. In addition to these species, there are many other acacias to consider if you live in a warm, dry climate. Silver wattle (A. dealbata) produces beautiful blossom clusters for cutting.
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Harvesting
Acacia branches make beautiful cut flowers when nicely trimmed.
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Troubleshooting
Acacia rust and other leaf diseases can make trees look unsightly. Thorny varieties often support colonies of ants that protect aphid colonies. Acacias are naturally short-lived trees that decline after 20 to 30 years.
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