ACACIA spectabilis

One of the most popular Acacia in cultivation this quick growing Acacia has bright green feathery foliage and prolific golden yellow flowers that occurr in clusters on long racemes in late winter and spring providing a spectacular display.
The flowers are followed by long, wide seed pods about 50-100 mm long.

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

Indigenous to New South Wales and Queensland.

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 seed keep 4-5mm 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.