ACACIA acuminata

An upright and fast growing shrub or small tree with golden yellow rod shaped flowers 2.5 cm long being produced near the ends of the branches.
Bright green phyllodes (leaves) around 10 cm long and about 2mm-8 mm wide finishing in a point.

In ideal conditions the Raspberry Jam Wattle can grow to a height of 10 m but in cultivation usually no more than 5 m.
The timber is widely used in wood turning due to the beautiful grain and aroma of raspberry jam for some time after cutting.

Easily grown in most temperate areas and suited to a range of soils including limestone provided it is reasonably free draining. Flowers best in full sun, frost hardy and drought tolerant with medium salt tolerance.

Grow notes:

Although seed can be sown most of the year in many parts of Australia seed is generally best sown in spring or autumn, avoid the coldest and hottest months of the year. The optimum germination temperature for germination is around 18-22°C.

Acacia seeds germinate readily, however they do have a hard outer coating which is impervious to water and generally germination will normally not occur unless the seed is scarified by abrading or pre-treated with boiling water first.

1. Place the seed in a container and pour in just boiled water and allow to soak overnight.
2. The swollen seed can then be sown, re-treat seeds that have not swollen.
3. Sow seed 3-4mm deep. Keep warm & moist but not wet.
4. Germination should occur in 10-21 days @ 18-22C.

General note: Seeds of many natives are dormant and require specific conditions or pre-treatment for germination.
Do not be too hasty to discard seed that does not germinate, seeds will often lay dormant until the conditions are similar to their natural requirements for germination to occur. Containers put to one side will often surprise long after they were discarded.