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Acacia pycnantha - Benth.

Common Name Golden Wattle
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Thickets, or as an under-storey in Eucalyptus forests, especially on very poor soils[167].
Range Australia - New South Wales, Southern Australia, Victoria.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Acacia pycnantha Golden Wattle


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Melburnian
Acacia pycnantha Golden Wattle

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Acacia pycnantha is an evergreen Tree growing to 8 m (26ft 3in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from March to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers
Edible Uses: Gum

Flowers - cooked[144]. Rich in pollen, they are often used in fritters. The plant yields an oily gum which is said to be edible[177, 183]. Some species produce a gum that is dark and is liable to be astringent and distasteful, but others produce a light gum and this is sweet and pleasant. It can be sucked like candy or soaked in water to make a jelly.[193]. The gum can be warmed when it becomes soft and chewable[193].

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.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye  Gum  Soil stabilization  Tannin

A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[168]. A green dye is obtained from the seed pods[168]. The extensive root system of this plant helps to prevent soil erosion[200]. It is often planted for this purpose on sandy banks[167]. The bark is rich in tannin[1, 171]. On a 10% moisture basis, the bark contains 40.8% tannin[223].

Special Uses

Nitrogen Fixer

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a rather poor sandy loam and a very sunny position[1, 11]. Succeeds in any good garden soil that is not excessively limey and in dry soils[11]. Most members of this genus become chlorotic on limey soils[200]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.8 to 6.5. This species is not very hardy outdoors in Britain. Plants require hot, sunny summers if they are to ripen their wood fully and flower freely. In Britain they tend to do best when grown in coastal gardens in a sunny, sheltered position that is protected from the wind[11]. A fast growing but short-lived tree in cultivation[167]. It is sometimes cultivated for the tannin obtained from its bark[1, 171]. This tree is the floral emblem of Australia[167]. 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].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a warm greenhouse[1]. Stored seed should be scarified, pre-soaked for 12 hours in warm water and then sown in a warm greenhouse in March. The seed germinates in 3 - 4 weeks at 25°c[133]. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in individual pots in a frame[78]. Overwinter in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Fair percentage[78].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

AUSTRALASIA: Australia (New South Wales, South Australia (southeast), Victoria)

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 :

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12

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

Benth.

Botanical References

11200

Links / References

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Readers comment

Virginia Anne Lyon   Mon Oct 29 2007

The seed of this particular wattle is also edible with a vanilla/coffee flavour and can be roasted and ground and used as a coffee substitute, or to flavour ice-cream etc.

Tricia   Thu Feb 14 2008

I have a fully grown Acacia Pycnantha in my back garden in Hertfordshire. It towers above the roof of my house and at the moment it is in full bloom. I just can't believe it has grown so well. I have a packet full of seeds and an going to try and grow them. I have taken some pictures of my tree just in case no-one believes how big it is.

Chicken food. Suitable in cool temperate Australia as an indigenous Victorian species that supplies a high protein, highly palatable food source for scavenging chickens. Good pioneer plant for succession planting soils preparation for orchards etc with deep roots penetrating into poor soils and N fixing ability.   Jul 25 2012 12:00AM

Upgrading the scavenging feed resource base (SFRB) for scavenging chickens; Part I. Preferred perenn

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