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Acacia schaffneri

Accession Count: 2
Common Name: Schaffner's acacia
Family Name: Fabaceae
Botanical Name: Acacia schaffneri
Synonyms:
Botanical Synonyms: Vachellia schaffneri
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics: Acacia schaffneri is an evergreen to semi deciduous small tree with distinctively gnarled branches, occasionally snake-like in appearance (1, 2, 3). Although primarily low-branching, mature trees will eventually form a dense, spreading crown from multiple branches that overlap and interweave (1, 3, 4). The brown to gray bark is shallowly furrowed, and will become fuzzy and lacy green during early spring, due to the green petioles that originate along the branches (4, 5). The twigs are dark purplish-brown to dark brown, and will be densely pubescent with erect hairs, as will the stipular spines (5). Forming in pairs at the base of each leaf, the pin-like thorns vary from pale to dark in color, and are usually hidden by the dense leaflets (2). Overall, the tree will develop a fern-like appearance from the twice-compound green leaves, which are composed of numerous leaflets (1). From February to April, bright, mildly-fragrant sulfur-yellow flowers will bloom in a ball-shaped inflorescence, densely packed along the branches singly or in clusters of 2-5 (4, 5). The legume fruits will follow, dark brown to black in color, straight to slightly curved, flattened, and not constricted between the equally flattened seeds (5).
Compound: Aca sch
Geographic Origin: South Texas
Ecozone Origin:
Biome Origin: Desert
Natural History: The specific epithet, schaffneri, and common name Schaffner’s acacia are both attributed to the German dentist and botanist Wilhelm Schaffner, who settled within Mexico City in 1856. Occasionally, Schaffner’s acacia is referred to as Wheat’s acacia in honor of the introduction of A. schaffneri to the southwest by the Phoenix landscape artist John Wheat (4).
A. schaffneri is native to the Chihuahuan desert within southern Texas and northern Mexico (4). It occupies elevations of 600 to 2500m in dry sites, successional fields, pastures, and other disturbed sites from south Chihuahua and Coahuila, to Veracruz and northern Oaxaca, Mexico (5).
Cultivation Notes: Schaffner’s acacia is slightly frost tender and only tolerant of USDA hardiness zones 8b to 10b (15°F-35°F) (3, 9). Trees thrive in full sun and hot conditions, which should be provided in order to improve growth (3, 4, 10). In addition, A. schaffneri tolerates a variety of soil qualities – including sandy, loam, clay, rocky, average, and poor soils – and persists in numerous substrates within its natural habitat (3, 5). However, a sandy-loam soil with 15% organic mulch and a neutral or basic pH is preferred (3, 4, 10). At the same time, soil must be well-draining, and water should be sparingly provided (3). It may be necessary to prune young acacia until the desired form is reached in mature plants (4).
A. schaffneri can be propagated through air layering and the planting of seed, which should be properly cleaned and scarified before sowing (9).
Ethnobotany: Schaffner’s acacia has been used the most extensively in cultivation, where it is valued as a background plant, in parking strips, parking lots, streets, and as a shade tree. At the same time, the sharp spines make A. schaffneri useful as a barrier plant (3). The wood is heavy and high strength, and can be used to create a variety of products, including furniture, flooring, heavy platforms, marine structures and posts, buildings, and fences (11, 12). Additionally, the wood serves as high quality fuel, and has been used in cooking. Livestock value Schaffner’s acacia as a source of shade, shelter, and food – goats and sheep browse the leaves and consume the fuzzy legumes during the fruiting season (12).
Although the medicinal uses of A. schaffneri have not been thoroughly documented, it possesses cytotoxic activity against colon, lung, and melanoma cancers in humans. Hexane and chloroform extracts from the aerial parts of A. schaffneri were discovered to arrest the cell cycle of malignant cancers (13).
Height: 16 - 20 feet
Width: 20 - 50 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate Growing
Grow Season: Summer
Flower Season: Spring
Color: Yellow
Function: Shade
Spread: Spreading
Allergen: Allergenic
Invasive: Benign
Toxicity: Benign
Hardy: Tender
Water Use: Low water Use
Citations:
  1. Plants of Texas Rangelands. Retrieved February 13th, 2021.
  2. Plant Master. Retrieved February 13th, 2021.
  3. Water-Efficient Landscape Guide. Retrieved February 13th, 2021.
  4. Arid Zone Trees. Retrieved February 13th, 2021.
  5. Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved February 13th, 2021.
  6. Tropicos. Retrieved February 13th, 2021.
  7. The Plant List. Retrieved February 13th, 2021.
  8. JSTOR. Retrieved February 13th, 2021.
  9. Dave’s Garden. Retrieved February 13th, 2021.
  10. Treeland Nurseries. Retrieved February 13th, 2021.
  11. Scientific Electronic Library Online. Retrieved from <https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0718-221X2017000300005>, February 13th, 2021.
  12. iNaturalist Canada. Retrieved February 13th, 2021.
  13. Sage Journals. Retrieved February 13th, 2021.
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Acacia schaffneri