It was first described by renowned botanist J.E. Smith, the founder of London’s Linneaen Society.

Evergreen shrub with smooth, purplish brown or light green bark. Up to 0.3 – 3 m high.

Leaves

Narrow, straight or very slightly elliptic, and blue-green. Each leaf is about 5 – 15 cm long and 2 – 10 mm wide, with a prominent vein down the centre. Its surface is hairless and covered with a fine white powder. It grows at right angles to the stem.

Flowers

Pale yellow to white and ball-shaped. Each flower is 4 – 7 mm in diameter and is found in clusters of 5 – 10 flowers aligned along an axis of 1 – 3 cm long. They are sweet smelling and enclosed in overlapping bracts (modified leaves) before opening.

Fruits/Seeds

Oblong, flat, and straight-sided pods, 2 – 5 cm long and 8 – 19 mm wide, and bluish in colour.

Field Guide

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  • Species Category: Plants
  • Species origin: Native
  • Conservation status: Common
  • Did You Know?
    • In its natural habitat, it is killed by fire and relies on stored seed reserves in the soil to regenerate
  • What to Observe

    • First fully open single flower

    • Full flowering (record all days)

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

    • Open seed pods (record all days)

  • When and Where

    When To Look

    • From autumn through spring
    • Flowers appear from March to September
    • Seed pods appear after flowers

    Where To Look

    • Common in bushland surrounding Sydney, but occurs along the east coast and ranges of Australia from southern Queensland south into Tasmania
    • Also occurs on some offshore islands, the Grampians, and in the border region of South Australia and Victoria
    • In coastal regions of low altitude (up to 300 m)
    • In heath and dry woodlands with sandy soil
  • What Else?

    Similar Species

    Flinders Ranges or Willow-leaved Wattle (Acacia iteaphylla) is a bushier shrub up to 4 m high, with longer seed pods (5 – 13 cm long).

  • Trails: Cumberland Land Conservancy Wallaroo NSW, Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens QLD, Macquarie University NSW, Monash University VIC, Newhaven College VIC, North Head NSW, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne VIC, Sunshine Coast Currimundi QLD
  • Species Region: Australia