Acacia dealbata subsp. subalpina

RHS Plant Profile
subalpine blue wattle

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Other common names

subalpine mimosa

Trees Shrubs

An evergreen tree, to around 8m, with beautiful fern-like silver green leaves. The fluffy flowers in spring are bright yellow and fragrant..

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright, 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. Suits coastal, courtyard and urban gardens in milder locations, but may need winter protection elsewhere. It is smaller in every respect than Acacia dealbata, but hardier. Resents hard pruning. For more advice see tree cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings or seed. For more advice see Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Mediterranean climate plants

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, fluted scale and mealybugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus