Golden Wattle
The Golden Wattle is Australia’s floral emblem, the botanical, name is Acacia pycnantha and it has many uses indeed. Used as a bush tucker food, golden wattle seed is easy to germinate given a little ‘treatment’, it is also an attractive flowering plant.
According to traditional users the seeds of Acacia pycnantha can be roasted and then eaten. Also used to make wattle seed flower, and even for flavouring ice-cream. The foliage (phyllodes rather than true leaves) secret nectar which attracts birds as well as ants.
This is an an Acacia Species that is found widely across south Australia, through Victoria and to New South Wales the beauty of this tree is the masses of golden flowers produced in winter through to spring. The seeds of the golden wattle take a while to mature after flowering, and are generally not ready to harvest until mid to late summer.
Used widely in land regeneration as it is fast growing and has the ability to fix nitrogen into the soil.
Propagation
These seeds hang in long pods and the individual seeds are hard coated, in natural circumstances it would be fire that sparks germination. In propagation we need to look at other methods.
Abrasion is one method used, try two sheets of sandpaper and rub the seeds between then, boiling for 1 – 2 minutes is another and for individual seeds a small nick with a razor blade or sharp knife seems to work. Seed from the Golden Wattle should germinate with 2 weeks after treatment.
General Care
This is not a plant that really requires much care at all once established.
- Use a tree guard to prevent damage from rabbits and grazing animals when first planted
- Keep watered through the first summer.
- Fertilizer is not generally required although a specialist low phosphorous Australian Native plant fertilizer can be used.
Once established maintenance is minimal, although this is short lived tree, a rough guide is a lifespan of 10 – 20 years depending on climate and soil conditions.
Acacia pycnantha Summary Information
- Botanical Name – Acacia pycnantha
- Family – Mimosacae
- Common Name – Golden Wattle
- Origins – South Australia
- Height – To 10 metres tall, often smaller.
- Spread – will form a broad crown to 8 metres over time.
- Growth Rate – Fast
- Position – Full sun to a little shade.
- Soil – Well drained with some moisture.
- Foliage – Mid green.
- Flowers – Golden yellow balls.
- Flowering Season – Winter to spring.
- Frost Tolerance – Will tolerate light frosts.
- Drought tolerance – Good.
Landscaping Uses
- Use as a small to medium feature tree for gardens and parks
- Native and indigenous landscape plantings
- Erosion control on slopes and disturbed sites
- Windbreaks and shelterbelts
- Habitat and food source for native wildlife (birds, insects, pollinators)
- Coastal and dryland landscaping (drought tolerant once established)
- Revegetation and land rehabilitation projects
- Screening and informal hedging
- Cultural and symbolic plantings (Australian national floral emblem)
- Low-maintenance landscapes and naturalistic designs
Problems
Although this is an attractive plants and grows from South Australia through to New South Wales is does present as a weed problem outside of its native range.
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