Hardiness zones
Sunset 8, 9, 13-24
USDA 9-11
Landscape Use: Large visual or noise screening plant, small spreading tree casting a moderately dense shade
Form & Character: Evergreen large shrub to small tree, billowing and spreading, dome like, pendulous, usually symmetrical
Growth Habit: Vigorous growth rate, spreading to pendulous, 20 or 30' in height with greater spread
Foliage/texture: Lanceolate, long, blue-green falcate phyllodes to 6-12" long, juvenile phyllodes are especially large. Trunk generally grayish brown and smooth when young becoming roughened with age, weak and brittle wood, medium texture
Flowers & fruits: Numerous 1/2" axillary yellow flowers in racemes; flattened brown pods grow too 5" long and are somewhat constricted between seeds
Seasonal color: Wonderful canopy of yellow flowers in March
Temperature: Hardy to 19oF. Tolerant of high desert heat.
Light: Full sun required, no shade
Soil: Tolerant of all but most alkaline soil, nitrogen fixing legume.
Watering: Infrequent deep irrigations; use water to control growth rate. High water applications means rank growth.
Pruning: Must elevate canopy base if used as multiple-trunk tree to overcome pendulous habit
Propagation: Seed, scarify in 95% sulfuric acid for 30 minutes then wash on running tepid water for 30 minutes.
Disease and pests: Numerous root rot pathogens infect plant if soil is excessively wet.
Additional comments: Careful planning and use of blue leaf wattle is needed because of it's wide spreading habit and pendulous umbrella like form. Plant this spreading tree in a small space and it's maintenance requirements (pruning) will be high. This is not a street tree or for use in areas of high traffic. It is also relatively short lived and prone to limb breakage during high wind events, especially if over watered.
