General Description:

Acacia is a genus of around 1300 species, about 950 of which occur in Australia. Until recently the genus was more broadly described with about 1400 species spread over five sub-genera. This is discussed further in our dedicated Acacia page.

Acacias occur in all Australian states from coastal zones to mountains to the dry inland. Collectively, acacias are known as “wattles” and one of them, Acacia pycnantha, is the national floral emblem. The green and gold colours of the foliage and flowers has provided Australia’s official colours.

Acacia denticulosa is an open upright shrub or small tree, 2 to 4 metres high and 1 to 3 metres wide. The leaf-like phyllodes are  broadly oval shaped, 50-90 cm long and 35-75 cm wide with prominent veins an irregularly toothed margins. They have a sandpaper-like texture which gives rise to the common name.  The small flowers are arranged in a yellow, curved rod-like inflorescence about 6-8 cm long, borne singly or in pairs in the leaf axils.  Flowering occurs from late winter to spring.

This is a very unusual Acacia which is widely grown by enthusiasts but is not otherwise common in cultivation.  It has been successfully grown in Melbourne, Canberra and the Darling.Downs in south-east Queensland. It adapts to various soil types provided that they are well-drained but additional watering during dry periods is required for good growth. It tolerates partial shade but is best planted in full sun. This species is most suited to temperate regions or elevated, less humid, areas in sub-tropical regions and may be short lived where hot humid summers are experienced.

This species is relatively easy to propagate by normal seed raising methods following pre-treatment of seed with hot water or scarification. New growth cuttings are reported to strike well.

* EPBC Act = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999;
ROTAP = Rare or Threatened Australian Plants (Briggs and Leigh, 1988)
For further information refer the Australian Plants at Risk page

Note: Information on cultivation based on Acacia denticulosa in ‘A Horticultural Guide to Australian Plants’, Set 7 (1980) published by the Society for Growing Australian Plants, Queensland Region