The World Conservation Union has included this species in their list of 100 of the world's worst invasive species, one of only 32 terrest...Read Morerial species so singled out. [HYPERLINK@www.k-state.edu]
It is native to Australia and Tasmania, but has now naturalized in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, many islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and New Zealand. It is widely seen as threatening native habitat and reducing biodiversity.
Hawaii has declared it a noxious weed and prohibited its sale and planting.
I bought this plant originally under the name of A. filicifolia, but I think it is A. mearnsii - partly because of its hardiness compared...Read More to A. dealbata.
In Southampton, UK(Z9a) it survived -8c in a fairly exposed position while nearby A. dealbata died to ground level.
In Cornwall, (Z9b) I am now growing what I believe is the same species, and again it is growing well and survived a freak frost for Cornwall of -8C. It also retained most of its leaves.
Its hardiness would depend on where the seed was obtained as it is widely distributed along the south of New South Wales. But some plants grow in the Australian Capital Territory - parts of which can be very wet and cold during the winter.
I prefer it to A. dealbata because of its neater shape, and it responds well to tip-pruning. I grow it for its foliage - flowers tend to get killed by the strong winds.
As far as I know it is the hardiest of the feather-leafed acacias and should be tried far more often.
The World Conservation Union has included this species in their list of 100 of the world's worst invasive species, one of only 32 terrest...Read More
I bought this plant originally under the name of A. filicifolia, but I think it is A. mearnsii - partly because of its hardiness compared...Read More
I ahve not grown this plant. Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) has become naturalized in Hawaii and California.
In Australia it is subject to borers and has a short life span of 5 to 7 years.