Care of the tree Acacia iteaphylla or Flinders Range wattle |
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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 are: Acacia iteaphylla, Acacia greggii, Acacia dodonaeifolia, Acacia dealbata, Acacia cultriformis, Acacia longifolia, Acacia hebeclada, Acacia tortilis, Acacia truncata, Acacia luederitzii, Acacia saligna, Acacia paradoxa, Acacia tetragonophylla, Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia karoo. Common names: Flinders Range wattle, Port Lincoln wattle, Winter wattle and Willow-leaved wattle. This species is native to Southern Australia. They are small trees or evergreen shrubs with a round shape and elegant hanging branches like those of the willow; they reach 4-5 meters (16.40 feet) high. The interesting foliage is made up of long, thin, silver-green linear leaves. The showy yellow flowers bloom in spring. The fruits are pod-shaped. These plants are used as isolated specimens, in shrub groups or to form informal hedges and screens. They are suitable for Mediterranean coastal gardens that do not suffer from strong winds and as nitrogen fixing plants. Acacia iteaphylla can be grown in a full sun or semi-shade exposure. It tolerates the heat of the Mediterranean summer and occasional low intensity frosts. The soil has to be well drained and can be grown in sandy, stony and even slightly clayey soils. Irrigation should be moderate waiting until the soil has dried before adding more water. A small fertilizer with organic matter is enough in the fall. They should be pruned after flowering to give them a more compact appearance. They are quite resistant plants that do not usually present serious pest and disease problems. They can be propagated from seeds sown in spring that will be immersed for 5 seconds in boiling water and then left to soak for a couple of days before sowing. Also from cuttings made in summer that will have to be left in a pot for almost a year before transplanting. |
Images of the tree Acacia iteaphylla or Flinders Range wattle |
 Acacia iteaphylla  Acacia iteaphylla |