Acacia Growing Guide

Acacia species, Acacia pycnantha and Acacia farnesiana

Crop Rotation Group

Legumes (Pea and Bean family) ●

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

No, acacias are semi-tropical plants. They can tolerate occasional light frost, but not hard freezes.

Feeding

None generally needed. Once established, acacias fix their own nitrogen.

Spacing

Single Plants: 6,00m (19' 8") each way (minimum)
Rows: 6,00m (19' 8") with 6,00m (19' 8") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

With patience, acacias can be started from seed in early spring. To coax the hard seeds to life, place them in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to soak overnight before planting the seeds 1.5cm (½ inch) deep. Or, save growing time by setting out purchased plants in winter or spring. Container-grown plants can be transplanted until early summer but may shed some leaves if set out under stressful conditions. Water young plants during droughts their first season after planting. Once established, acacias require very little supplemental water.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

In home landscapes, acacia is typically grown as a specimen tree that grows to 3 to 8m (10 to 30 feet) tall. Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) and Golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha) are highly invasive aliens in South Africa and cannot be planted. There are 58 native species, many of which are available at indigenous nurseries. The Paperbark thorn (Acacia siberiana) is one of the most commonly grown.

Harvesting

Acacia branches make beautiful cut flowers when nicely trimmed.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Acacia

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail