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Cootamundra wattle — <em>Acacia baileyana</em> Cootamundra wattle — <em>Acacia baileyana</em> Cootamundra wattle — <em>Acacia baileyana</em> Cootamundra wattle — <em>Acacia baileyana</em> Cootamundra wattle — <em>Acacia baileyana</em> Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea'

Description

Named after the small town of Cootamundra in New South Wales, Australia, this acacia grows into a small to medium size evergreen tree with a dome-shaped habit, 20-30 ft. tall and as wide. It has distinctive pinnately divided powdery-gray leaves and produces large clusters of sulphur yellow flowers in early to mid-winter for a striking floral display.

In Inland Empire gardens, this species is planted in sunny areas and is sustained with low amounts of supplemental water during summer months. It easily adapts to sandy and loamy soils; good drainage is needed when planted in heavier, clayey soils. It is appreciated as a residential scale tree due to its small size, bright flowers and year-around gray-green foliage color.

The cultivar, Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea', produces fewer flowers, but has an attractive plum color cast to the leaves at the ends of branches that adds to its value as a foliage accent plant.

Water Needs

Cootamundra wattle is well adapted to the climate conditions occurring throughout the Inland Empire and can will perform well with low amounts of supplemental water once established. Care should be taken to avoid too much summer water as this can result in excessive growth and weak branching structure. The chart shown below provides a baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months indicated by an asterisk (*) when winter rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed.

Irrigation Schedule and Graph

Low Water Use Plants

Irrigation Schedule 2

  Jan* Feb* Mar* Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov* Dec*
Runs per Month 0x to 2x 0x to 2x 0x to 2x 1x to 2x 1x to 2x 1x to 2x 1x to 2x 1x to 2x 1x to 2x 1x to 2x 0x to 2x 0x to 2x
Inches per Run 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1" 1"
 
Inches per Month 0" to 2" 0" to 2" 0" to 2" 1" to 2" 1" to 2" 1" to 2" 1" to 2" 1" to 2" 1" to 2" 1" to 2" 0" to 2" 0" to 2"

Range of supplemental summer water: 7"-14"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"

 
0"-2"
0"-2"
0"-2"
1"-2"
1"-2"
1"-2"
1"-2"
1"-2"
1"-2"
1"-2"
0"-2"
0"-2"
  Jan* Feb* Mar* Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov* Dec*
For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, click here.

Plant Properties

Plant Type: Tree
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Upright, Robust
Growth Rate: Fast
Height: 20 ft. - 30 ft.
Width: 20 ft. - 30 ft.
Water Needs: Low 2
Foliage Color: Gray green, Blue gray
Flower Color: Yellow
Flower Season: Winter
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil, Sand, Loam, Clay
Exposure Adaptations: All day sun
Function: Slopes, Residential spaces, Flowering accent plant, Courtyard and patio tree

Maintenance

Prune when young to establish a nice long-term structure. This acacia is adapted to lean soils, so it is best to avoid long-term heavy organic (wood chip) mulching. Gravel or small stone mulch or shallow organic mulch, held away from the trunk and root crown, is okay Plant fall through early spring. Prune late winter (just prior to spring growth) or spring (D).

References

Associations

Plant Lists