Acacia dealbata

• Mimosa

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Bee

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed

Best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a warm greenhouse^[11]. 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^[12]. 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.

Rooted cuttings

Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in individual pots in a frame^[13]. Overwinter in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Fair percentage^[13].

Cultivation

Prefers a sandy loam and a very sunny position sheltered from strong winds^[11][14]. Succeeds in any good garden soil that is lime-free^[14]. Plants become chlorotic on limey soils^[10]. They grow well in a hot dry position^[15], and are very drought tolerant^[16]. Fast growing^[17]. Although it prefers a well-drained soil, the plant is tolerant of both drought and wet conditions^[18]. Hardy to about -10°c, this species succeeds outdoors in the milder areas of Britain^[14][19], growing well in Cornwall^[20][21]. If it is cut down by frosts it usually resprouts from the base to form a thicket of slender stems^[15]. It can be trained and grown against a sunny wall^[22]. Plants require hot, sunny summers if they are to ripen their wood fully and flower freely. In Britain they tend to do best when grown in coastal gardens in a sunny, sheltered position that is protected from the wind^[14]. This species is closely allied to A. decurrens^[14]. Old specimens sucker very freely, often at considerable distances from the parent tree^[10]. Plants can be coppiced^[23]. A very ornamental tree^[11], there are some named varieties^[18]. The species is cultivated in S. Europe for ornament, timber and soil stabilization^[24]. The flowers are very attractive and are often sold in florists^[14][7]. The violet-like perfume of the flowers can be quite intoxicating on a calm day^[16]. 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^[10].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Acacia dealbata. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Acacia dealbata.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

1. ? ^1.01.1 Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana ISBN 0-00-634436-4 (32202/01/01)
2. ? ^2.02.12.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (32202/01/01)
3. ? ^3.03.1 Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-558229-2 (32202/01/01)
4. ? ^4.04.14.2 Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber ()
5. ? ^5.05.15.2 Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. ISBN 0-207-14383-8 (32202/01/01)
6. ? ^6.06.16.2 Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. ISBN 0-02-544950-8 (32202/01/01)
7. ? ^7.07.17.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (32202/01/01)
8. ? ^8.08.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (32202/01/01)
9. ? ^9.09.1 Rottsieper. E.H.W. Vegetable Tannins The Forestal Land, Timber and Railways Co. Ltd. (32202/01/01)
10. ? ^{10.010.110.210.310.410.5} Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)
11. ? ^11.011.111.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (32202/01/01)
12. ? Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. (32202/01/01)
13. ? ^13.013.1 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (32202/01/01)
14. ? ^{14.014.114.214.314.414.514.6} Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (32202/01/01)
15. ? ^15.015.1 Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent (32202/01/01)
16. ? ^16.016.1 Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (32202/01/01)
17. ? RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society (32202/01/01)
18. ? ^18.018.1 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. ISBN 0-330-37376-5 (32202/01/01)
19. ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30258-2 (32202/01/01)
20. ? Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties. ()
21. ? Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall. ()
22. ? Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. ISBN 0-670-82929-3 (32202/01/01)
23. ? Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. (32202/01/01)
24. ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (32202/01/01)
25. ? Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria. ()