Tree Description
Acacia is a large group of plants
Belongs to the pea and bean family
Sometimes called Mimosa
Grows in most warm regions
Rarely grows big in hot dry areas
Can grow into a large tree where water is abundant
Grows fast but does not live long
Most have bright yellow fragrant flowers
Some have white flowers
Small flowers form balls or clusters
Leaves can be like fern or flat stems acting as leaves
Some have sharp thorns called cat claws
Wood is heavy and strong
Flowers give fragrance
Bark gives tannin for leather
Some give gum known as gum arabic
Gives katchu for dyeing clothes
Acacia has more than 450 species
Big trees or medium shrubs
Fast-growing
Mostly evergreen
Some shed leaves in winter
Leaves usually compound
Flowers small yellow orange or white
Flowers in spikes or round clusters
Fruits are pods with hard seeds
Tolerates mild frost
Tolerates slightly salty soil and drought when mature
Climate
Prefers hot regions
Tolerates mild frost
Dies if temperature drops too much
Soil
Tolerates slightly salty soil
Tolerates drought when mature
Water Needs
Tolerates drought but needs watering
Propagation
All species propagate by seeds
Varieties
Acacia cyanophylla small evergreen thornless
Acacia cultriformis small tree or large shrub
Acacia longifolia small with narrow leaves
Acacia armata evergreen shrub from Australia
Farnesiana fast-growing used as hedges
Acacia arabica similar to Farnesiana gives gum arabic
Acacia is grown to decorate gardens and parks
Used as thorny hedges
Gives dyes and fragrances
Wood used for furniture and fuel
Flowers important for bees and produce high-quality honey
