Callicoma serratifolia aka Black Wattle

Callicoma serratifolia is an evergreen shrub or small tree. Its common names include black wattle, butterwood and callicoma. It belongs to the family Cunoniaceae. Its native range runs from southeastern Queensland into eastern New South Wales. It grows along Australia's coast and on nearby tablelands. It inhabits damp stream banks, rocky gullies and rainforests. It also grows in moist eucalyptus forests. These habitats place it in a subtropical setting.

In gardens, it reaches about 16–40 feet [4.9–12.2 metres] tall. Its spread can reach 25 feet [7.6 metres]. The leaves grow in opposite pairs along the stems. Each blade has coarse teeth and a sharp tip. Their shapes range from broad and lance-like to narrow ovals. Leaves reach about 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] in length. The upper surface is dark green. Pale, woolly hairs cover the underside of each leaf. Some leaves also have reddish-brown hairs beneath. The tree keeps its foliage through winter, adding year-round garden interest.

Small, cream-white flowers form tight, round heads. These heads grow at leaf joints and stem tips. Each head measures just under an inch across. The individual flowers have no petals. Missouri Botanical Garden lists the flowering period as May to July. Its account also describes bloom from spring into early summer. The flowers offer less garden impact than the evergreen foliage. The plant's main landscape role is as a small ornamental tree.

Choose a frost-free site with moist, fertile soil. Good drainage is part of its stated growing needs. It grows in full sun or partial shade. Woodland edges and sites with dappled shade are listed garden settings. Missouri Botanical Garden places it in USDA zones 9–11. It lists medium water needs and low upkeep. It reports no major insect pests or diseases. Its height and width still need space in a garden.

This species can also form a hedge. Its wood has served in wattle-and-daub building work. Plants For A Future records no known food uses. It also lists no known medicinal uses. That source reports no known hazards, rather than proof of safety. It does not flag the plant as weedy. Seed is a listed means of propagation.