Consulta Plantas

Care of the tree Acacia dealbata or Mimosa

The Acacia genus, of the Fabaceae family, includes some 1,200 species of shrubs and trees native to Australia, Africa, Asia and South America. Some species of the genus are: Acacia dealbata, Acacia cultriformis, Acacia longifolia, Acacia hebeclada, Acacia tortilis, Acacia truncata, Acacia luederitzii, Acacia dodonaeifolia, Acacia saligna, Acacia paradoxa, Acacia tetragonophylla, Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia karoo, Acacia greggii, Acacia iteaphylla.

Common names: Silver wattle, Blue wattle and Mimosa. This species comes from Australia.

They are fast growing trees that reach 10 meters high, but in their natural environment they reach 30 meters (32.80 feet). The leaves are bipinnate, have small bluish-green leaflets on the upper side and have hair on the underside. They produce very perfumed yellow flowers grouped in small glomeruli.

They are used in areas of the garden protected from the wind as isolated specimens. They are also used in streets, walks and avenues. The flowers are used for floral decorations and bouquets.

Acacia dealbata needs exposure to full sun and high temperatures; resists cold to 0 ºC (32 ºF).

The ideal soil for these trees would be well-drained soil with gross sand, granitic sand and a little organic matter (leaf mulch, for example).

They are drought resistant plants, so watering will be regular, waiting for the soil to dry.

Fertilize with compost in late fall.

It's important to prune them to control their disordered growth. They can be pruned in full bloom and use the flowers for decorations and bouquets.

They are plants prone to attack by mealybugs.

They are propagated by seeds and by layering, but it is faster to buy them in nurseries.

Images of the tree Acacia dealbata or Mimosa