Happy National Wattle Day and the official first day of Spring, although the weather where I live has been behaving more like Summer, which is extremely concerning. Nevertheless I am always happy to celebrate our Acacia species and this one I have been so patiently waiting for it to flower, and finally starting in Autumn and through Winter it has been an absolute delight. Unfortunately I found this species extremely difficult to photograph, possibly something to do with it having no leaves to focus on.

This is Acacia aphylla aptly named the Leafless Wattle, it has blue grey stems which appear almost succulent like and are spikey on the ends. In Autumn and Winter it covers itself in bright yellow orbs, whch float on the stems like a little planet suspended in space.

I have been growing my Acacia aphylla in a large pot for a couple of years now and this is the first time it has flowered.

It is in a part sun position which is quite exposed to both southerly and westerly winds, it seems to be quite wind tolerant and I think this exposed position has helped with the Summer humidity.

Acacia aphylla is endemic to a small area around Perth Western Australia and is categorised as a threatened species as it is rare in the wild. It grows naturally on sandy, gravelly and clay soils and can be found growing in eucalypt woodlands.

This species is quick growing like most acacias and even though mine took a while to flower I have enjoyed the upright, twisted blue stems immensely, this is a real feature plant which nearly everyone stops to admire and enquire about.

I would highly recommend growing this species in a pot if you are in a sub tropical area. If you are in the southern states in a location with low humidity and a well drained soil it would be worth a try growing in the ground where it will reach 2-3 metres high by the same wide.

Pollinating insects are attracted to the flowers and I have had several small spiders making the most out of the dense, tangled stems.

So give this rare species a go, I’m sure you won’t regret it, and Happy Wattle Day!