Trees & Shrubs Weed profiles & Native alternatives
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I’M A WEED
Golden Wreath Wattle
Golden Wreath Wattle
Acacia saligna
Dense, bushy shrubs to 8 m. Phyllodes are very variable, oval-shaped, with blunt pointed tips, 8-25 cm long by 0.2-5 cm wide with a prominent mid-vein. Bright yellow-orange, globular flowers in groups of two to ten. Pods are long, thin and twisted.
Threat / Problem
• Fast-growing invaders of native vegetation that can form dense thickets, outcompeting and displacing
native species.
Spread
• New plants grow from seed and A. saligna also produces suckers. Ants and birds are the main dispersal agents.
• Regenerates prolifically after fire.
Control
• Hand pull small plants, drill and fill or cut and swab any time.
• If unsure of identification, seek professional advice before removing to ensure that local native wattles are not removed.
GROW ME INSTEAD
Coastal Wattle
Coastal Wattle
Acacia longifolia var. sophorae
Spreading shrub to 4 m high, sometimes taller, and can be 10-15 m wide. Phyllodes are blunt, elliptic, 6-15 cm long by 0.8-3.5 cm wide, with 2-4 prominent, parallel veins. Flowers are bright yellow, dense, fluffy spikes 2-4 cm long. Pods 5-10 cm long by 0.4-0.6 cm broad, often drooping and clustered, coiled and twisted on opening. Seed is eaten and dispersed by a wide variety of birds.
Common on coastal sand dunes and propagates easily from seed.
Coastal Wattle
OR GROW ME
Sheep Bush
Sheep Bush
Geijera linearifolia
Erect, much-branched shrub to 3 m high. Linear leaves are 2-5 cm long by 0.3-0.6 cm wide. Flowers are small, clustered and white, with five spreading petals 0.15-0.2 cm long from August to October. Fruit are berries, 0.4-0.6 cm by 0.3-0.4 cm with black, shiny seeds.
Sheep Bush
Found more commonly inland on sandy and clay soils, rocky limestone, and edges of salt lakes.
Sheep Bush
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