This vigorous shrub to small tree has a short trunk with spreading branches that form an irregular rounded crown. It has smooth green lanced-shaped leaves and the butter yellow flowers appear in a cylindrical spike from late winter to spring.

Hardiness zones 9 to 11

Acacia longifoliais naturally found in Australia growing widespread along the coastal areas or in the northern and southern tablelands in woodland areas.

It prefers a sandy based moderately fertile soil in a sunny to semi shaded position and is drought, frost and salt spray tolerant.

The Sydney Golden Wattle is grown for its flowers and bushy habit. It is planted along borders for screening or used as a low informal hedge in the new gardens. It is also suitable for dune and seaside plantings (first line salt tolerant), or as a fodder plant and for fire wood. It is quick growing attaining a height of 2 m (6ft) during one seasonand will establish in 1 to 3 years but short lived.

The tree is also used on embankments for erosion control or along roadways as a nurse tree and may be planted as a wind break in coastal positions. Older plants are susceptible to borers that cause it to lose branches or split open. ID 142

Acacia(a-KAY-see-a) / (a-KAH-kee-a) longifolia (long-gi-FO-lee-a)

'Acacia': from Greek akazo - to sharpen (some species have sharp thorns); 'longifolia': long leaves.

Fabaceae (fab-AY-see-ee)
subfamilyMimosoideae
Wattles