WATTLES |
| This I remember And shall not soon forget How in September, When the low hills were wet With rain and mornings still were silver-cold, The wattle loosened wave on wave of gold. "Cootamundra Wattles : Written Abroad" Ernest Moll. Wattles are always associated with the coming of spring but the flowering calendar of wattles is spread over the whole year. There is no time when there is not at least one wattle in bloom. September 1st has recently been declared "National Wattle Day" in Australia. Wattles belong to the genus Acacia in the family Mimosaceae which is derived from the genus Mimosa, common throughout many regions of the world. Acacia is derived from the Greek "akis", a point, referring to the prickly leaves of some specimens. Our Acacias are by far the largest genus with at least 750 species, more than any other genus in Australia. They occur in every habitat in which plants can grow, from coast to inland, from rainforest edges to arid desert. They range in size and shape from prostrate shrubs to tall trees. The green and gold of the wattle are seen as symbolic of Australia. Depictions of blooms have appeared in Coats of Arms and other insignia since 1912. With a waratah, wattle flowers appeared on the golden trowels used to lay the foundation stones of the 1913 commencement column in Canberra. The species. Acacia pycnantha, meaning "with dense flower heads", generally accepted as the national emblem, was officially proclaimed on 1 Sept, 1988. It grows from 4 to 8 meters in the hotter, drier parts of south western NSW, in ACT, Vic and SA. The fragrant flower balls are brilliantly golden-yellow and the thick, leathery leaves are very variable in shape. It will grow in a wide range of well drained soils but is short lived. Acacias have an enormous range of shape and forms of leaf, flower and pod. Some Acacias retain feathery, fern- like pinnate or bipinnate leaves for life but in most species, as the seedling develops, these leaves are replaced by flattened leaf stalks or petioles, called phyllodes. These function as ordinary leaves but require less moisture. They may be bright, dull, greyish or brownish green, silvery or purplish. In shape they can be entire, fern-like or needlepointed, soft or leathery. They often have a waxy or a hairy protective covering. Sometimes small glands are obvious. The wonderful range of foliage offers an endless choice to create texture contrasts in the garden The flowers range in colour from cream, pale to bright yellow, gold or orange. The flowerhead is made of many small flowers with numerous stamens which create the fluffy appearance. They grow in balls or in spikes which can be arranged as panicles or racemes. In the garden this delightful range presents effective colour patterns. The seed case of acacias is a pod, often assuming a twisted shape. When crisp and dry they snap open, scattering shiny, black seeds, then remain on the plant as a fascinating garden feature. "Wattle" is an old English word meaning the long, flexible interwoven twigs or saplings used for a house framework on which mud was coated -"wattle and daub". Early settlers used this technique to build their homes and sheds. A local tree in Sydney "black wattle" Callicoma serratifolia, with cream fluffy flowers was first used. It is not an Acacia but a relation of the NSW Christmas Bush in the family Cunoniaceae. Species of Acacia were later used as "wattles". The bark of trees from the family Mimosaceae is widely used in tanning. The occurrence of so many suitable acacias led to a very successful Australian leather industry. Aborigines used the seeds of several species as a source of food, including A. farnesiana, A. sophorae. Some species are toxic. The aboriginal names for wattles are still used - mulga, myall, boree. PROPAGATING ACACIAS Seed is used for propagation. Acacia seed has a very tough coat which must be treated before sowing. For the seed to germinate water must be able to enter the seed. There are two reliable methods of treating hard coated seeds of Acacia. This method also applies to the many pea-flowered plants, such as Dillwynnia. The seeds of most Acacias remain fertile for very long periods. Place the seed in a heat proof container, and pour boiling water over it. Allow the seed to soak overnight. You will notice that some or all of the seed has swollen. OR Gently rub the seed between two sheets of fine sandpaper. This reduces the thickness of the seed, allowing water in. Acacias develop long tap roots very quickly and should be transplanted from the seed bed very early to avoid damage to the roots. Tn most places autumn is the best time to sow acacias to avoid transplanting in humid weather to prevent fungal attack. CARING FOR WATTLES Fertilizers must be used carefully. Some acacias are very sensitive to high levels of phosphorous in the soil. Acacias respond well to light pruning immediately after flowering to maintain a reasonable shape and to extend life. Some wattles are short lived but their span is very variable. As they seed freely and flower when quite young, they are easily replaced. The main pests are borers but galls can be a problem on the smaller branches and on the pods. SELECTING ACACIAS The vast range of wattles means that whether for general landscaping, for a quick-growing screen, to attract birds with the seeds or bees with the flowers, there is always a wattle for the situation. Here we can only make some suggestions. Consult your local GREENGOLD GARDEN CENTRE for advice on the most suitable Acacia for your climate, and location. SUMMER FLOWERING WATTLES:
AUTUMN FLOWERING WATTLES
WlNTER FLOWERING WATTLES
SPRING FLOWERING WATTLES
s = shrub to 1m m = shrub to 2m 1 = shrub more than 2m st = tree to 6m mt = tree 6 - 12m It = tree more than 12m |
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This page prepared for GREENGOLD GARDEN CONCEPTS by Internet Gardencentre ™, and last updated October 01, 2006