Common Name:
swamp wattle
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Botanical Name:
Acacia retinodes
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Acacia retinodes is a fast-growing, evergreen small to medium tree typically reaching 6-10 m (20-33 ft) in height with a spread of 3-7 m (1, 2, 4). It has a domed canopy with an upright, spreading habit and smooth, dark brown to black furrowed bark (2, 4). The branchlets are glabrous and may be pendulous or angular. Like most Acacia species, it bears phyllodes instead of true leaves; these are narrowly oblanceolate to linear, green to grey-green, and 5-16 cm long by 3-16 mm wide with a single prominent nerve (2). The tree blooms periodically throughout the year, often during summer but also in autumn, spring, and winter, producing fragrant yellow, globular flower heads borne in short racemes (1, 2, 4). Seedpods are up to 18 cm long and contain nutrient-rich seeds (3). The species is known to sucker, contributing to its dense, shrubby form in cultivation. It is nitrogen-fixing, drought-tolerant, and tolerant of salinity, lime, and moderate frost, making it effective for erosion control and habitat restoration (3, 4).
Compound:
Aca ret
Geographic Origin:
Australia
Ecozone Origin:
Australasia
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Acacia retinodes is native to southern Australia, specifically South Australia (Mount Lofty Ranges, Fleurieu Peninsula), Victoria, and Tasmania (2, 4). It typically occurs on low hills and plains within Eucalyptus woodlands, often in poorly drained or moderately saline soils (3). Its natural range includes clay, loam, sand, and rocky substrates with a wide pH tolerance (acidic to alkaline) (3, 4). The species was first formally described by Schlechtendal in 1847, reclassified by Pedley as Racosperma retinodes in 2003, and returned to Acacia in 2007 (2). It is now widely used in landscaping and revegetation projects and has become naturalized in parts of southern Europe (3).
Cultivation Notes:
Acacia retinodes is cultivated widely as an ornamental or for erosion control on slopes, roadsides, and coastal plains. It thrives in full sun or part shade and in well-drained to seasonally wet soils. While short-lived, it establishes quickly and is relatively low-maintenance (1, 2, 4). It is hardy in USDA zones 7–10 but may suffer in harsh winters (3). Propagation is usually by seed, which benefits from hot water treatment before sowing. The plant tolerates drought, moderate frost, saline conditions, and lime-rich soils (3, 4). It should be spaced at least 2 meters from sewer mains according to South Australian regulations (4).
Ethnobotany:
Indigenous Australians traditionally softened and ate the gum of Acacia retinodes in water to relieve chest pain (2, 4). The seeds are highly nutritious, rich in protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and unsaturated fats, making them a valuable traditional and modern food source (3). The flowers, rich in pollen, are edible and can be cooked in fritters (3). The plant also provides yellow dye from flowers and green dye from seed pods (3). Its extensive root system makes it useful for stabilizing soil, and it is an important habitat plant that attracts birds, native butterflies, and beneficial insects (4). It has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for its ornamental value (2).
Height:
20 - 50 feet
Width:
20 - 50 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Summer
Color:
Yellow
Function:
Shade
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
