Sweet Acacia - Acacia farnesiana

Landscape Index Page Native landscape trees Native landscape shrubs

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Family - Fabaceae

Natural Habitat -  Dry Pinelands, Rocklands, coastal areas

Planting Zones - 9, 10, 11

Description -  Sweet Acacia is a perennial Florida native shrub or small tree up to to 25 feet with an equal or greater spread, branches grow in a zigzag form, are brown colored with small white dots on the bark, spines are produced at the leaf nodes.  green to grayish-green bipinnate leaf.

 Sweet Acacia flowers year round and has very fragrant yellow pom-pom like flower heads about 1/2 an inch in diameter. Fruit is a dry, curved brown pod 1-3 inches in length, pointed at the tip, usually in clusters of three to five.

Landscape Use -  Specimen plant, border plantings, barrier, container plant, can be trained as a small tree, Bonsai.

Culture - Sweet Acacia may be propagated by seeds or cuttings & grows best in full sun. Soil should be well drained, and may be acidic to alkaline.

Sweet Acacia is drought tolerant and will tolerate salt air well back from the dunes, away from direct salt spray.