Acacia aphylla

live wire
Quirky leafless soft-spiny shrub with showy golden orb flowers from late winter into spring. Tolerates drought, heat, frost.
Acacia aphylla
height 6–8ft
width 4–6ft
tolerates Drought, Heat, Pots, Rooftops, Neglect
water
needs		 Low
water
info		 For the first three years after it’s planted, this acacia should be watered deeply but infrequently (when the top three inches of soil or so have dried). After that, it won’t need supplemental water except in exceptionally hot and dry environments but will look its best with occasional summer irrigation once dry. Use drippers, emitters or a slow stream of water so that it doesn’t run off; allow the water to trickle all the way down through the deepest layers of soil.
hardy
to		 20F
exposure Part Shade – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing All Purpose
origin W Australia
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 8, 9, 14–H1

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

OUTDOOR EXPOSURE GUIDE

Full Sun
Six or more hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Shade
Three to five hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Sun
One to two hours of sun beams directly landing on the plants leaves.

Full Shade
The plant is never fully lit by sun beams, but is in a bright spot or has dappled sunbeams playing over the leaves throughout the day.

Deep Shade
The plant never has dappled light on the leaves, and is in a place that feels dim, even on a nice sunny day.

SUNSET ZONES MAP

Growing Notes

Appreciates fertilizer during the late spring and summer season.
Can be pruned hard in spring (after it’s done flowering) to reset the overall size of the plant.
Does well in pots, which will dwarf the plant to be in harmonious balance with the pot.
This plant really looks its best in full sun. One grower notes that part of their tree is shaded by a larger eucalyptus; the side that receives full sun looks robust, while the part in the shade looks stunted and listless.

Special Interest

This plant has evolved the ability to photosynthesize through its stems, rather than leaves. This allows it to retain water more efficiently, making it a very drought tolerant choice for your garden.