Practical
Plants

Acacia melanoxylon

Blackwood

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Acacia genus in the family Leguminosae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Acacia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
30 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Flowers - cooked[4]. Rich in pollen, they are often used in fritters. The flowers have a penetrating scent[12].

Plant part
Flowers

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Antirheumatic[5].

Product or use
Antirheumatic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[10]. A green dye is obtained from the seed pods[10]. The extensive root system of this plant helps to prevent soil erosion[11]. The bark is rich in tannin[5]. Wood - hard, dark, close grained, high quality, takes a high polish. Used for furniture, fittings etc[1][14][2][6][7][9].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Earth stabiliser

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria. Locally naturalized in S.W. Europe[15].
Habitat
Wet forests on good soils up to the montane zone[5][6]. Usually an under-storey tree in Eucalyptus forests[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a warm greenhouse[1]. Stored seed should be scarified, pre-soaked for 12 hours in warm water and then sown in a warm greenhouse in March. The seed germinates in 3 - 4 weeks at 25°c[3]. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in individual pots in a frame[16]. Overwinter in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Fair percentage[16].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a sandy loam and a very sunny position[1]. Prefers a deep moist soil[9]. Succeeds in a hot dry position[8]. Succeeds in any good garden soil that is not excessively limey[2]. Most members of this genus become chlorotic on limey soils[11]. This is one of the hardier members of the genus, tolerating temperatures down to about -10°c[13]. It succeeds outdoors in Britain from Dorset westwards, also in south-western Scotland and in Ireland[1][2]. However, even in the mildest areas of the country it is liable to be cut back to the ground in excessively cold winters though it can resprout from the base[2]. It is planted for timber in south-west Europe[15]. This species produces both phyllodes (basically a flattened stem that looks and acts like a leaf) and true leaves[1][8]. The roots are very vigorous and extensive - they often produce suckers[13] and can damage the foundations of buildings[11]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[11].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

    ↩

  4. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

    ↩

  5. Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩1↩2

  7. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-00-216441-8

    ↩

  8. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  9. Holliday. I. and Hill. R. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller Ltd. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-85179-627-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩1↩2

  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  13. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩1↩2

  14. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩

  15. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  16. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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