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Scientific Name
Acacia dealbata
Family Name
MIMOSACEAE
Common Name
Silver Wattle
Status
Height
5.0m - 30.0m (500-3000cm)
Flowers
Bright yellow, prolific. Globular flower heads in racemes or panicles.
Fruit
Seed pods
Form
Small to medium tree with growth varying with conditions
Municipalities
Communities
Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland; Riparian; Wet Eucalypt Forest
Habitat Notes
Tolerates a wide range of soils, except poorly drained or permanently wet soils. Best growth on moist, fertile sites. Tolerates strong winds, frost and snow.
Site Tolerance
Dry; Exposed; Moist; Rocky; Windy
Frost Tolerance
Hardy
Soil Tolerance
Clay; Fertile; Loam; Poor; Sandy; Well-drained
General Notes
A hardy, widespread species. Very fast growing. Pioneer species, good "nurse" plant to shelter other species. Fixes nitrogen. Fire retardant. Prone to attack by gall rusts, caterpillars and borers. Foliage is palatable to stock. Used for cut flower and foliage industry. Timber used for furniture, pulp. Bark tannin can be used for tanning. Fast-burning firewood, but poor fuel compared to other wattles. Establishes well from direct seeding. Natural regeneration common from seed or suckers. Excellent wildlife habitat. Susceptible to browsing by hares and rabbits. Koori (mainland) use: The wood was used for the handles of stone axes, with the gum used to fasten the head to the handle. The gum was eaten, or dissolved in water with nectar to make a sweet drink.Resistant to Phytophthora cinnamomi. Not suitable below powerlines.
Propagation Details
Propagation Calendar
Flowering Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Collecting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sowing Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Cutting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Seeds drop soon after they turn brown. produces large crops every 2-3 years
Seed Treatment Method
Boiling water
Seed Storage Life
Long
Viable Seeds Per Gram
45-84
Seed Treatment Notes
Usually high viability and very long storage life. Seed may persist in soil for 50 years.
Germination Time
2-4 weeks
Suitable for Direct Seeding
Yes
Cuttings
Expected Time to Take Root
Expected Time to Plant Out
Propagation by Division
N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.
Cutting Notes
Most Acacias are readily propagated by seed. Cuttings are possible with "phyllode bearing" Acacias, more so than with "feathery leaved" species.
Copyright 2000-2009, Understorey Network Incorporated. Updated 2024-10-10
Database development and website design by
Andrew Smith