Mathews, Ray
Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.
Huisache, Sweet acacia, Mealy wattle
Fabaceae (Pea Family)
A 15-20 ft., multi-trunked
tree or shrub. Branchlets spiny and bearing finely divided leaves, each of the many leaflets less than 1/4 inch long. The bipinnately
compound foliage is light-green and ferny. Small, fragrant, orange-yellow flowers 1/2 inch in diameter cluster in globose heads with many protruding
stamens per flower.
Fruit a reddish brown to black woody
pod 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, rounded, not flat, and tapered at both ends.
The common name, Huisache, is derived from Nahuatl and means many thorns. In southern Europe this species is extensively planted for the flowers, which are a perfume ingredient.
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Tree Leaf Retention: Deciduous Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Leaf Complexity: Bipinnate Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Pinnate Leaf Margin: Entire Leaf Apex: Acute Leaf Base: Oblique Size Notes: Height 15-25 feet, Spread 15 to 25 feet.
Leaf: green to gray-green
Flower: Flower 3/8 inch.
Sepals 5
Fruit: Green, Brown, Black 3-8 cm
Size Class: 12-36 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr
Distribution
USA: AL , AZ , CA , FL , GA , HI , LA , MS , NM , TX
Native Distribution: FL to s. CA (possibly introduced) & Mex.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), HI(I), PR(N), VI(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Drought Tolerance: High
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Caliche type
Conditions Comments: Acacia fernesiana can form dense thickets from suckers. It has small, fragrant, orange-yellow flowers cluster in globose heads. But blooms so early that buds are often ruined by frost in the northern parts of its range. Acacia beetles can girdle limbs up to 3 in. across. Alkaline tolerant. This beautiful
tree casts a soft filtered light but be careful when planting it, because it has sharp thorns on the trunk and branches.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Aromatic
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Deer Resistant: Minimal
Last Update: 2012-04-25
