Acacia saligna aka Golden Wreath Wattle

Acacia saligna is an evergreen shrub or small tree. Its common names include blue-leaved wattle and golden wreath wattle. It belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae. Its native range lies in southwest Australia. There it grows on sandy plains near the coast. It also occurs beside rivers, in swamps, and on rocky hills. These sites include poor acid sands and lime-rich soils.

In gardens, height and spread range from 7–26 feet [2–8 metres]. Some trees reach about 30 feet [9 metres] tall. Growth is fast, with maturity reached in about 10–20 years. Plants may have one trunk or several main stems. Shoots from the roots can form dense thickets. The crown can be bushy, spreading, or drooping. Young seedlings have true leaves. Older plants bear phyllodes, which are flat, leaf-like structures. These are narrow and grey-green, reaching about 0.8 feet [0.25 metres] long.

Small, round heads of bright yellow flowers appear in spring. Insects pollinate the flowers, and the plant is not self-fertile. When seeds develop, brown pods with thin, papery walls follow. The flowers provide colour while the evergreen crown gives year-round cover. People have grown this species for screens, hedges, and windbreaks. Its roots help hold loose sand and eroded ground. Other uses include fuel, fodder, gum, and tannin. Flowers yield yellow dye, while pods yield green dye.

The plant needs full sun and soil that drains well. It accepts clay, loam, sand, and chalk. Soil may be acid, neutral, or alkaline. Reported moisture needs range from dry to moist. The RHS rates its UK hardiness as H3. This suits coastal districts and other mild parts of Britain. Plants For A Future gives USDA zones 7–10. These ratings use different systems and should not be treated as equivalents.

Its spread poses a major concern outside its native range. The RHS lists it as invasive in the UK. Sale is banned there, and existing plants need control. Do not plant it or allow it into the wild. The supplied sources name no specific pests or diseases. Cooked flowers have food uses, including fritters. Useful Tropical Plants also identifies this species' seeds as edible. Plants For A Future records no known hazards or medicinal uses.