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Golden Wreath Wattle
Environmental Weed
Botanical Name: Acacia saligna
Photo: Ku-ring-gai Council
Description
Also known as Willow Wattle. A native of Western Australia, Golden Wreath Wattle is a large shrub to small tree from 3 to 8 m high. It has a rounded crown, smooth brown bark. It has previously been planted for dune rehabilitation and road-side planting. In some areas in Sydney North, it was deliberately planted years ago for "beautification" and sometimes as a soil stabiliser.
Foliage is dark green, drooping and leathery. Adult leaves are actually phyllodes and vary in size (about 12-20cm long and 1-3cm wide) but always have a prominent main vein. Foliage of younger trees and new growth is broader and may have a wavy margin to the leaf.
Yellow golden ball type flowers, flowering in spring. Long rounded pod are straight to strongly curled.
Impact on bushland
Golden Wreath Wattle germinates in great numbers on road edges and disturbed ground, particularly after fire. It is now invading dune and bushland on sections of the north and central coast. It is tolerant of dry, low nutrient soils, but grows very vigorously in better conditions.
Control
Manual:
- Pull up very young seedlings by hand.
- Once established it has a very strong taproot, though the plant may be only 30cm tall.
- If top growth is broken off, the stump will grow repeatedly.
- To dig out, use a mattock to remove stump and exposed lateral roots.
- Use cut and paint method for established plants. If a stump reshoots, cut off and paint shoots.
See Manual Weed Control Techniques.
Chemical: Please contact your local control authority for advice on chemical control.
Similar species
Local native species which may be mistaken for the Golden Wreath Wattle are:
- Straight Wattle (Acacia stricta), which also has a prominent main vein but greyer foliage, smaller paller flowers. It is a small shrub with upright growth and fairly uncommon.
- Sweet Scented Wattle (Acacia suaveolens) which also has a prominent main vein. It has grey leaves about 10cm x 1cm, flowers in late winter are pale lemon coloured in small tufts. It is a straggly small shrub, common in open woodland and coastal heath. Reaches 1.5m.