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Acacia longifolia

Sydney golden wattle

An evergreen, fast-growing small tree or shrub. The 'leaves' are 20cm long and narrow with a slight curve. The flowers are bright yellow in a great many 'candles' off the main stem. If seed pods develop, they are curly brown ribbon-like pods that look like tagliatelle

Other common names
sallow wattle
Sydney golden wattle
Synonyms
Acacia latifolia misapplied
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Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metres
Time to ultimate height
10–20 years
Ultimate spread
2.5–4 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Yellow Green
Summer Green
Autumn Green Brown
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

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

Exposure
Sheltered
Drought resistance
Yes
Hardiness
H5
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

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors in neutral to acid well-drained soil in sheltered location with full sun. This is one of the hardiest Acacias and has become invasive in warmer countries where it has become introduced. For more advice, see shrub cultivation

Propagation

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Banks and slopes
  • Hedging and screens
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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