Acacia longifolia (Andr.) Willd.

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Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Acacia longifolia' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/acacia/acacia-longifolia/). Accessed 2024-09-14.

Genus

Acacia

Common Names

Sydney Golden Wattle

Synonyms

Mimosa longifolia Andr.

Infraspecifics

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

glabrous: Lacking hairs smooth. glabrescent Becoming hairless.
lanceolate: Lance-shaped; broadest in middle tapering to point.

References

There are no active references in this article.

Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Acacia longifolia' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/acacia/acacia-longifolia/). Accessed 2024-09-14.

Acacia longifolia thriving in the windy, exposed conditions of the Dry Garden at RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Essex, UK (March 2022). Image John Grimshaw.

An evergreen small tree or shrub 15 to 30 ft high, of vigorous growth; young shoots angular, usually glabrous. Phyllodes leaf-like, leathery, oblong-lanceolate, blunt or more or less pointed, tapered at the base; 3 to 6 in. long, 3⁄8 to 3⁄4 in. wide; dark green. Flowers bright yellow, produced from the axils of the phyllodes in cylindrical spikes 11⁄2 to 2 in. long, 1⁄4 to 3⁄8 in. wide. Pod 3 to 4 in. long, 1⁄6 to 1⁄3 in. wide. Bot. Mag., tt. 1827, 2166.

Native of the Australian mainland, and (if interpreted in a wide sense) of Tasmania; introduced in 1792 and ever since a popular cool greenhouse shrub. It can usually be recognised by its large, narrowly oblong ‘leaves’ and its long, rather slender flower-spikes, which open in spring. It has been grown in many Cornish gardens, and the late Sir F. Stern once had a plant against his house at Highdown, Worthing, eventually killed by frost. It is one of the most lime-tolerant species, and for that reason used on the French Riviera as a stock for other species. It is popular as a street tree in California.

From the Supplement (Vol. V)

A. mucronata – This species is hardier than the related A. longifolia. Indeed, Messrs Hillier consider it to be the hardiest of the genus.

Acacia longifolia flowering in Hanover Square gardens, London; 11th March 2017. Image Owen Johnson.

Foliage on Acacia longifolia at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK (11 April 2022). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Basal part of phyllode on Acacia longifolia, here with 2 longitudinal veins (Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK – 11 April 20022). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Anastomosing minor veins on Acacia longifolia (Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK (11 April 2022). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

A mucronata Willd

This is best considered as an independent species, although it is closely allied to A. longifolia, and has been considered a variety of it. It is widespread in Tasmania and is also found on the mainland in Victoria. Typically, this species has very narrow phyllodes, to about {1/5} in. wide at the most, with three to five rather prominent nerves; but in foliage characters it is very variable. Bot. Mag., t. 2747.

Elegant foliage on Acacia mucronata at Merrigum, The Netherlands (26 September 2020). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Narrow linear to oblanceolate phyllodes on Acacia mucronata (Merrigum, The Netherlands – 26 September 2021). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Slender phyllodes, puberulent at first, on Acacia mucronata (Merrigum, The Netherlands – 26 September 2021). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Puberulent, ribbed branchlet and phyllode with up to 7 longitudinal veins on Acacia mucronata (Merrigum, The Netherlands – 26 September 2021). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

var. floribunda (Vent.) F. v. Muell.

Synonyms
Mimosa floribunda Vent

Phyllodes very narrow, {1/4} in. or less wide and 3 to 5 in. long, with prominent parallel veins.

var. sophorae (Labill.) F. v. Muell.

Synonyms
Mimosa sophorae Labill

Distinct in its spreading habit and short, broad phyllodes, often widest above the middle. It is found wild in Tasmania on sand dunes, and in S. and E. Australia; said to be very resistant to sea-winds. It is sometimes given specific rank as A. sophorae (Labill.) R. Br.

Acacia longifolia var. sophorae is cultivated in a container as an orangery plant in Meise Botanic garden (accession 20090207–52), Belgium. 10 July 2010. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The grey bark of Acacia longifolia var. sophorae cracks with age, offering a brown tint underneath. Meise Botanic garden (accession 20090207–52), Belgium. 3 March 2012. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Short broad phyllodes and bright yellow flowers of Acacia longifolia var. sophorae. Meise Botanic garden (accession 20090207–52), Belgium. 3 March 2012. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Acacia longifolia var. sophorae grows on sand dunes in the wild. Meise Botanic garden (accession 20090207–52), Belgium. 16 February 2013. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

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