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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Acacia koa is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Acacia hawaiiensis (Rock.) O.Deg. & I.Deg. Acacia kauaiensis Hillebr. Racosperma koa (A.Gray) Pedley.
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
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.
Dysentery
The bark of all Acacia species contains greater or lesser quantities of tannins and are astringent. Astringents are often used medicinally - taken internally, for example. they are used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery, and can also be helpful in cases of internal bleeding. Applied externally, often as a wash, they are used to treat wounds and other skin problems, haemorrhoids, perspiring feet, some eye problems, as a mouth wash etc[601
, K
].
Many Acacia trees also yield greater or lesser quantities of a gum from the trunk and stems. This is sometimes taken internally in the treatment of diarrhoea and haemorrhoids[601
].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Agroforestry Uses: Most plantations in Hawaii have been established to provide vegetative cover on sites degraded by decades of intense grazing[303 ]. Other Uses: The wood is hard. It is used by local people to make spears, paddles etc[46 ]. The heartwood is highly valued for its unique grain, varied colour and workability. It seasons well without serious warping or splitting. Curly-grained wood, the result of both stress and genetics, is preferred over straight-grained wood[303 ]. Wood colour ranges from a subtle yellow to a striking dark red-purple. The specific gravity of wood averages 0.40, but with curly-grained wood can be as high as 0.65. It is the premier Hawaiian timber for furniture, cabinetry, interior work and woodcrafts[303 ]. The reddish wood is similar in strength and weight to Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), with a specific gravity of 0.55. Koa is also a tonewood, used in the construction of ukuleles,acoustic guitars, and Weissenborn-style Hawaiian steel guitars. B.C. Rich used koa on some of their electric guitars and still uses a koa-veneered topwood on certain models. Fender made limited edition koa wood models of the Telecaster and the Stratocaster in 2006.
Special Uses
Carbon Farming Nitrogen Fixer
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Agroforestry Services: Crop shade Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen Management: Standard Regional Crop
Trees grow naturally in the tropics, usually at an elevation between 180 - 6,000 metres[303 ]. They grow in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,900 - 5,100mm[303 ]. Prefers a moderately to well drained, medium to very strongly acid soil[303 ]. Trees occurring in dense, wet native forest stands typically retain a straight, narrow form[303 ]. In the open, trees develop more spreading, branching crowns and shorter, broader trunks[303 ]. The tree has one main tap root and an otherwise shallow, spreading root system[303 ]. Observations suggest A. koa can flower almost any time of year, depending upon local weather conditions. Trees appear to be self-fertilizing[303 ]. Pods reach maturity at 4-6 months, depending on location and weather conditions[303 ]. Seed production begins when trees are 5 years old[303 ]. A. koa bears seed often and abundantly[303 ]. On favourable sites, planted seedlings grow to 9 metres in 5 years[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[200 ]. A. koa is nodulated by the slow-growing Bradyrhizobium spp. Common in tropical soils. It nodulates heavily in a variety of soils, suggesting it is effective with a wide variety of Bradyrhizobia strains[303 ].
Carbon Farming
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Agroforestry Services: Crop shade
Plants providing crop shade especially trees.
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Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen
Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.
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Management: Standard
Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
-
Regional Crop
These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Fahrenheit:
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Plant Propagation
The seed of most, if not all, members of this genus has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up 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. Once treated, seeds are sown in nursery beds. 1 week after germination, seedlings are transplanted into nursery tubes or bags. Seedlings are ready for transplanting into the field when they are approximately 20cm tall, (after 3-4 months in the nursery). Establishment by direct seeding or encouragement of natural regeneration is recommended as heart rot occurs during transplanting. One study recommends air-layering as the best vegetative propagation technique. The seeds are durable and easy to store. They germinate after many years of storage if kept in a cool, dry place. The most effective method for improving seed germination is mechanical scarification. However, hot water soaking works well and is a more practical method, seed should be soaked in boiled water for 24 hours. Seeds are seldom dispersed far from the tree and remain viable in the soil for up to 25 years.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Range
PACIFIC: United States (Hawaii)
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.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Status: Least Concern
| 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 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 |
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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.Gray
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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