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Acacia melanoxylon

Australian blackwood

A graceful evergreen tree possibly reaching 12m. Its 'leaves' are leathery grey-green and variable in shape. Some are ferny in shape with a slender stem, some have a saml leaf where the stem is flattened, but generally they are just the leaf stem alone, flattend into a 'leaf' longer than they are wide with a slight curve. In spring, the flowers are clouds of small, fluffy white to pale yellow flowers which may develop into 10cm brown, twisted-ribbon seed pods. The bark is grey with dark fissures

Other common names
blackwood
blackwood acacia
see moreTasmanian lightwood
Synonyms
Acacia arcuata

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Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metres
Time to ultimate height
10–20 years
Ultimate spread
4–8 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Yellow Cream White Green Grey Silver
Summer Green Grey Silver
Autumn Green Grey Silver Brown
Winter Green Grey Silver
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Drought resistance
Yes
Hardiness
H3
Botanical details
Family
Fabaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Spreading branched
Genus

Acacia can be deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs or climbers, with alternate, pinnately divided leaves or simple modified leaf-like stalks (phyllodes), and tiny, sometimes fragrant, flowers in short spikes, or in racemes or spikes of spherical heads

Name status

Correct

Plant range
S Australia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors in neutral to acid well-drained soil in sheltered location with full sun. Suits courtyard and urban gardens in milder locations, but will need winter protection elsewhere. Under glass, grow in peat-free, ericaceous or loam-based compost in full light. Resents hard pruning. For more advice see tree cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings or seed. For advice see propagation from seed (tree/shrub

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Architectural
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Gravel garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, fluted scale and mealybugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus

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