Acacia baileyana

Common Name: Cootamundra Wattle      

Family: Mimosaceae

Origin/Habitat: Cootamundra – Wagga Wagga, NSW. Naturalised in many places.

Foliage: Bluish-grey. Bipinnate leaves, 3-4 pairs of pinnae.

Flowers:   Flowers: June-September. Bright yellow.                    

Other features for identification: Purplish pods, almost straight, 6-9cm in length.

Soil preferences: Acacias prefer well-drained soil, with a pH neutral-acid. Fertilise at planting time with 10gm of 18:2.6:10 N.P.K slow release.

Cultural tolerances: Prefers average annual minimum temperature to be above –12 degrees Celsius. Acacias grow best in warm climates, in a full sun position.

Moderately resistant to salt winds, moderately resistant to drought, resistant to frost, resistant to pollution. Wind tolerance – best in the 2^nd line of a windbreak.

Common Pest or Disease problems: Circular swellings due to gall wasp. Remove and burn affected limbs.

Maintenance requirements: To extend life, completely remove dead branches, and prune after flowering finishes. (For Acacias in general) Add manure in spring as a supplementary fertiliser.

Other: Low fire risk.

Propagation: Treat seeds with heat.