ACACIA holosericea 100g

An attractive small shrub to 3 metres with flower spikes around 5cm in length that are displayed during the winter months, followed by curled seed pods.

The large soft silvery grey phyllodes (leaves) make it an attractive foliage plant. The soft leaves of this Acacia can be used as bush soap, producing a soapy form when rubbed in water.

The raw seeds can be roasted in hot ashes or collected when dry and ground to a flour base. This flour can then be mixed with water and made into a paste or baked as damper. Fast growing, good for screening.

Endemic to Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Prefers a light to medium soil that is well drained in an open sunny position. Drought and frost tender.

Please Note: Although many of the traditional Bush Food and Medicine plants are now commercially produced in various forms we recommend you re-search these before using them as any form of food or medicines. Some parts of the plant may not be edible or some may need prepared before they are safe to eat or use in any way. We do our best to describe their traditional & modern uses. It is the purchaser responsibility to ensure they are fit for their intended use.

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, 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 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.