Wattles

Australia's official floral emblem is a wattle (Acacia pycnantha), which is not surprising when you consider that in this country we have more than 850 species, ranging from ground covers and shrubs to giant trees. Wattles are great colonisers or pioneer plants, because they grow quickly and they grow readily from seed. They are excellent to use if you're starting a garden from scratch, either as an instant screen or as 'nurse plants' to protect other slower growing plants while they are becoming established. Don looked at several of the species of wattle flowering in the garden at the moment.

Fringed Wattle (Acacia fimbriata)

Bushy shrub or small tree to 7m (23') high with attractive, weeping foliage. Yellow perfumed ball-shaped flowers appear in late winter and spring. Good, dense, screen plant. Hardy in most situations.

Sydney Golden Wattle (Acacia longifolia)

A short trunked tree from 3-6m (10-20') high which flowers from July-October and is widely available throughout Australia. The flowers are scented and attract insects and birds.

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