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Gold-Dust Wattle

Bushy or straggly shrub, branchlets more or less angled at extremities, smooth or hairy. Bark is smooth, grey to brown. Commonly grows to 2.5 m high.

Leaves

Has phyllodes (flattened leaf stalks) that are rounded, usually asymmetric 0.4 – 1.5 cm long and 2 – 8 mm wide, hairy or smooth. Leaf midrib (large midline vein) is obscure or absent, lateral veins also absent.

Flowers

Bright yellow ball-shaped inflorescences (clusters flowers arranged on a stem) that form in patterns of 5. Flowers appear in late winter and spring and into early summer (July to November).

Fruits/Seeds

Pods twisted or spirally coiled, slightly raised over seeds. Seeds longitudinal, more or less oblong and shiny dark brown.

Field Guide

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  • Species Category: Plants
  • Species origin: Native
  • Conservation status: Common

  • What to Observe

    • First fully open single flower (each ‘flower ball’ is actually a cluster of 40-80 flowers)

    • Full flowering (record all days)

    • End of flowering (when 95% of the flowers have faded)

    • No flowering

    • Open Seed pods (record all days)

  • When and Where

    When To Look

    • From autumn throughout spring and early summer
    • Flowering usually August – October
    • Seed pods appear after flowers

    Where To Look

    • South Australia, Victoria, NSW and the Australian Capital Territory
    • In the understorey of open forest or woodland and in open scrub formations

  • What Else?

    They are tolerant of drought and frost.

    A flower in an inflorescence are referred to as ‘florets’.
  • Trails: Anakie Gorge VIC, Australian National Botanic Gardens ACT, Bendigo Kennington Reservoir VIC, Ecolinc Bacchus Marsh VIC, Gresswell Forest VIC, Serendip Sanctuary VIC, Urrbrae Wetland SA
  • Species Region: Australia