Golden Acacia

Pollen Type: Tree

Cross-Reactivity: Other Acacia

HS Allergy Extract: Acacia, Golden

Family: Fabaceae

Genus/Species: Acacia longifolia

Common Names: Long-leaved Wattle, Acacia Trinervis, Aroma Doble, Golden Wattle, Coast Wattle, Sallow Wattle, Sydney Golden Wattle

Distribution: California into SW Arizona.

Locations: Deserts, tropical areas

Pollination Method: Wind-pollinated

Pollinating Period: Spring months, depending on latitude & elevation

Description: The Golden Acacia is a short-lived shrub or small tree native to Australia, growing 9′-30′. The trunk bark is smooth or finely fissured and dark brown to greyish. Younger green branches are hairless, either rounded or angled, and often appear drooping. They may be lightly covered in a whitish powdery substance and develop rounded knobby outgrowths. Its ‘leaves’ are flattened and widened leaf stalks. They are dull green and leathery, are straight to sickle-shaped, and grow 3 1⁄2″-6 ” long and 1⁄2″–1 1⁄2″ wide. Its striking golden-yellow fluffy flowers grow in small globe-shaped clusters arranged into longer elongated clusters containing 40-100 flowers. Its plentiful blooms are what coined its nickname “Golden Wattle.” After flowering, long, somewhat flattened hairless seed pods develop. Because it is relatively drought and fire tolerant, it has the potential to become invasive in some regions and should be planted and monitored carefully.