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.