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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Acacia mangium is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects, Birds.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Acacia mangium holosericea (A.Cunn. ex G.Don) C.T.WhiteRacosperma holosericeum (A.Cunn. ex G.Don) Pedley
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Seeds - cooked[303 ]. Although edible, the seeds contain toxic substances and need to be carefully prepared in order to destroy these substances[303 ]. They are traditionally made into a flour[303 ]. The seeds have an unpleasant odour whilst being prepared[303 ].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
The phyllodes, bark and pods are used traditionally for the treatment of pruritic skin conditions, headache and tropical infection[286
].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Agroforestry Uses: Due to its large dense crown, this species is used to form the lower part of a multistorey windbreak in conjunction with Eucalyptus camaldulensis[303 ]. The plant grows fast, has a dense crown, fixes atmospheric nitrogen and has vigorous colonizing characteristics. These make it ideal for the revegetation and restoration of degraded mining sites and also the fixation of sand dunes[303 ]. Other Uses The wood is hard with a high density[303 ]. The wood is an excellent fuel that can readily be converted to charcoal[303 , 418 ]. The calorific value of the wood is estimated at 4,670 kcal/kg and the charcoal 7,536 kcal/kg[303 ]. Nice foliage. Possible feature plant. Suitable hedge or screen plant.
Attractive fruit. Suitable for tropical areas.
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
A plant of the drier, seasonal tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 750 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 24 - 32c, but can tolerate 12 - 45c[418 ]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -1c[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 600 - 1,200mm, but tolerates 250 - 1,600mm[418 ]. Requires a sunny position[418 ]. Dislikes heavier soils[418 ]. Succeeds in soils of low fertility[418 ]. Prefers a well-drained soil, but tolerant of dry conditions and seasonal inundation of the soil[418 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8.5[418 ]. The early and abundant seeding of this plant has the potential of making it a weed. Seed dispersal is prompted by propulsion from drying dehiscent pods. Browsing vertebrates sometimes also play a role in seed dispersal[305 ]. Early rapid growth makes this tree a highly productive fuelwood source. Trees 4 years old can yield up to 13 tonnes per hectare[303 ]. The tree can be lopped or pollarded, but generally does not respond well to coppicing[303 ]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[755 ].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Plant Propagation
Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and benefits from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Seeds can store for 14 years at room temperature with only 11% loss of viability[303 ].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Keo la-sim, Keo to, Silky wattle, Silver-leaved wattle, Soap Bush, Velvet wattle
Native Plant Search
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Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Asia, Australia*, Burkina Faso, India, Indochina, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia, Senegal, Sudan, Vietnam, West Africa.
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
The early and abundant seeding of this plant has the potential of making it a weed.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
| Related Plants
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Acacia aneura | Mulga Acacia | Tree | 15.0 |
8-11
| S | LM | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Acacia angustissima | Prairie acacia. Timbre. Fernleaf Acacia | Tree | 5.0 |
7-10
| F | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Acacia auriculiformis | Ear-Pod Wattle, Black Acacia, Earleaf, Black wattle | Tree | 25.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Acacia catechu | Cutch tree, Catechu acacia | Tree | 15.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Acacia colei | Cole's wattle, Candelabra Wattle, Soap wattle, | Shrub | 4.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Acacia concinna | Shikakai, Soap-Pod | Tree | 10.0 |
10-11
| M | LM | N | D | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Acacia coriacea | Wiry Wattle, Acacia, Leather Leaf | Tree | 5.0 |
9-11
| M | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Acacia cowleana | Hall’s Creek wattle | Tree | 5.0 |
10-12
| F | LM | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Acacia cultriformis | Knife-Leaf Wattle, Knife acacia | Shrub | 4.0 |
9-11
| S | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Acacia dealbata | Mimosa, Silver wattle | Tree | 25.0 |
7-10
| F | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Acacia decurrens | Green Wattle | Tree | 12.0 |
6-9
| F | LM | N | DM | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Acacia farnesiana | Sweet Acacia, Perfume Acacia, Huisache | Shrub | 9.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Acacia holosericea | Strap wattle, Candelabra wattle | Shrub | 3.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | M | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Acacia koa | Koa Acacia | Tree | 20.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Acacia koaia | Koai'a | Tree | 5.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Acacia leucophloea | Kuteera-Gum, White-barked acacia. | Tree | 25.0 |
10-12
| M | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Acacia longifolia | Sydney Golden Wattle, Acacia | Tree | 9.0 |
10-11
| M | L | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Acacia mearnsii | Black Wattle, Late black wattle | Tree | 10.0 |
8-11
| F | LM | N | M | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Acacia melanoxylon | Blackwood, Australia Acacia, Black Acacia, Blackwood Acacia | Tree | 30.0 |
9-11
| F | LM | N | DM | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Acacia mucronata | Narrow-Leaf Wattle | Tree | 9.0 |
7-10
| | L | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Acacia murrayana | Murray’s wattle, Colony wattle | Tree | 5.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Acacia paradoxa | Kangaroo Thorn, Paradox acacia | Shrub | 5.0 |
7-10
| | LMH | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Acacia podalyriifolia | Queensland Silver Wattle, Pearl wattle | Tree | 3.0 |
7-10
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Acacia pycnantha | Golden Wattle | Tree | 8.0 |
7-10
| F | L | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Acacia retinodes | Swamp Wattle, Water wattle | Tree | 6.0 |
7-10
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Acacia saligna | Blue-Leaved Wattle, Orange wattle | Shrub | 6.0 |
7-10
| F | LMH | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Acacia sophorae | Coastal Wattle, Acacia | Shrub | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Acacia verticillata | Prickly Moses | Shrub | 6.0 |
7-10
| | LMH | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Acacia victoriae | Bramble wattle. Gundabluey, Bardi bush | Shrub | 10.0 |
8-11
| F | LMH | N | DM | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Arracacia xanthorrhiza | Peruvian Parsnip, Arracacha | Perennial | 1.0 |
8-11
| | M | SN | M | 4 | 0 | 0 |
|
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
A.Cunn. ex G.Don
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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