Acacia dealbata

Acacia dealbata, the Silver Wattle, is native to New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania and is the Acacia species most often encountered in Great Britain. It is a beautiful plant with a greenish trunk and glaucous-silvery foliage arrranged in the bipinnate leaf structure that is characteristic of Acacias. The extremely attractive racemes of fluffy yellow blossom appear in early spring and are deservedly popular in the florist trade. Mature specimens in urban areas or the southwest of the country can reach considerable size and are capable of surviving freezes down to at least -14C for relatively short periods of time. However, its ability to tolerate cold should not be taken for granted and in more northerly latitudes or exposed situations it may struggle and will benefit from protection particularly when young. A sheltered position is ideal where it can take advantage of protective vegetation or the heat radiating from walls or surrounding houses.