Acacia pravissima F. v. Muell.

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Credits

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

Recommended citation
'Acacia pravissima' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/acacia/acacia-pravissima/). Accessed 2024-12-02.

Genus

Acacia

Common Names

Ovens Wattle

Infraspecifics

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

compound: Made up or consisting of two or more similar parts (e.g. a compound leaf is a leaf with several leaflets).
venation: Pattern of veins (nerves) especially in a leaf.

References

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Credits

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

Recommended citation
'Acacia pravissima' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/acacia/acacia-pravissima/). Accessed 2024-12-02.

Acacia pravissima is one of the hardiest and most satisfactory wattles in British cultivation (Totnes, Devon, 13th March 2021). Image Julian Sutton.

A shrub or small tree to about 20 ft, of graceful habit, with slender, angled branchlets. Phyllodes set densely on the stem, 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 in. long and wide, triangular-obovate or unequally four-angled; venation prominent. Flower-heads rich yellow, globular, only 1⁄6 in. or so wide, arranged in long compound racemes. Flowering time March to April.

Native of Victoria and New South Wales. There is a good example of this acacia at Ilnacullin (Garinish Island), Co. Cork, about 24 ft high. At Malahide Castle, near Dublin, it proved hardy in the winters of 1961–3 and is now some 12 ft high on a garden wall. It is remarkable for its very lop-sided phyllodes, set edgeways to the shoot.

From the Supplement (Vol. V)

Although not reliably hardy near London, this species is fast-growing, flowers when young, and sets good seed. In Mr R. C. Barnard’s garden at Bovey Tracey, Devon, some plants even survived the very cold winter of 1962–3. He suggests that this species may vary in hardiness (The Garden (Journ. R.H.S.), Vol. 103 (1978), p. 294).

Sharply pointed, characteristically lopsided triangular phyllodes give Acacia pravissima its specific name, from a Latin word meaning 'most crooked' (Totnes, Devon, UK; 13th March 2021). Image Julian Sutton.

With occasional heavy pruning, Acacia pravissima will make an attractive and painfully effective barrier (Totnes, Devon, UK; 13th March 2021). Image Julian Sutton.

Foliage on Acacia pravissima, with densely set phyllodes, at Tregrehan Garden, UK (24 September 2018). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Phyllode sellection on Acacia pravissima, variably obtriangular in outline, with 2 longitudinal veins and a large marginal gland (Tregrehan Garden, UK – 24 September 2018). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Emerging inflorescences on Acacia pravissima (Tregrehan Garden, UK – 24 September 2018). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Acacia pravissima in Christchurch Recreation Ground, Dorset, UK. November 2017. Image Ron Kemeny.

The phyllodes and flower buds of Acacia pravissima Christchurch Recreation Ground, Dorset, UK. November 2017. Image Ron Kemeny.

Acacia pravissima blossom, Burgess Park, south London; 6th April 2013. Image Owen Johnson.

The English champion Acacia pravissima at Overbeck's, Devon; 2nd May 2017. Image Owen Johnson.

A cultriformis G. Don

Common Names
Knife-Leaf Wattle

An allied species, distinguished by its silvery-grey, triangular phyllodes. It is probably very tender, but according to Thurston was once grown out-of-doors at St Michael’s Mount. Native of New South Wales and Queensland. Bot. Mag., n.s., t. 322.

Foliage on Acacia cultriformis growing at Parc Botanique de Château Pérouse, France (16 May 2023). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Phyllode selection of Acacia cultriformis, usually triangular and broadest about the middele (Parc Botanique de Château Pérouse, France – 16 May 2023). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Rather crowded phyllodes on Acacia cultriformis (Parc Botanique de Château Pérouse, France – 16 May 2023). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

A podalyriifolia G. Don

Synonyms
queensland silver wattle

A very beautiful species growing to 10 ft high or more; shoots white-downy at first. Phyllodes silvery-glaucous, downy, oval to ovate, 1 to 1{1/2} in. long, slightly oblique. Flower-heads fragrant, golden yellow, borne in winter and early spring in long racemes. It is fairly hardy in Cornwall and, with its various forms and hybrids, is much cultivated on the French Riviera. Bot. Mag., t. 9604.

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