ACACIA cyclops

Acacia cyclops takes its name from its large black seed that is surrounded by a bright red tissue.
A dense bushy shrub often with multiple stems or a small tree with a rounded leaf canopy. The canopy is made up of light green, narrow phyllodes (leaves) which have a shiny appearance when young and growing in a slightly downturned fashion.

Yellow round ball-shaped flowers appear in spring with pod maturing in summer.

Endemic to the south of Western Australia.

Naturally occurring mostly on coastal sand dunes makes the species ideally suited to poor sandy soils and exposed positions. Often used to stabilise soils, drought tolerant. Flowers best in full sun.

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 in temperate climates, avoiding 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 that 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 the depth of seed 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.