Acacia longifolia

RHS Plant Profile

Sydney golden wattle

Other common names

mimosa, sallow wattle

Synonyms

Acacia latifolia misapplied

Trees Shrubs

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An evergreen, fast-growing small tree or shrub. The 'leaves' are 20cm long and narrow with a slight curve. The flowers are bright yellow in a great many 'candles' off the main stem. If seed pods develop, they are curly brown ribbon-like pods that look like tagliatelle

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

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

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): H5
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: 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. This is one of the hardiest Acacias and has become invasive in warmer countries where it has become introduced. For more advice, see shrub cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings or seed. For advice see propagatiom from seed (tree/shrub

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Mediterranean climate plants
Banks and slopes
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

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

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus