Vachellia Species, Huisache, Mimosa Bush, Needle Bush, Sweet Acacia

As a young girl growing up in Laredo, Texas, we climbed the giant huisache tree in my firiend's yard. It had a triple trunk at least 4 f...Read Moreeet in diameter at the base. One trunk leaned out over their yard about 8 feet off the ground. We could climb up from the base, shimmy out along the trunk, and sit up there. Don't remember any thorns. Perhaps the dad kept thorns trimmed away near the base. Loved that tree.

Ok im going to give this tree a neutral rating only because it would take over my backyard if I let it grow and its a pain to trim this t...Read Moreree. It grows like a weed. I went on vacation and it rained a lot while I was away. I come back and it grew like a foot! It has thorns which have poked me repeatedly even though I try to be careful. If you got a big backyard then let it grow. If you are trying to get rid of it I would suggest removing the whole thing or it will come back and back and back. I wish I could keep it but the constant trimming is way to much work to do this just about every week in the spring/summer cause of its fast rate of growth. It started grown when I moved in (oct 07) and if I wouldnt have trimmed this it would be over 8 feet tall easily.

seems almost indestructible; we give it plenty of water once a week and never seems to mind over water or under water. growing like a wee...Read Mored and still not bloomed...maybe next year; multiple trunks and we are letting it grow on its own, no pruning yet.

it grows in port lavaca(zone 9a) and can be found in abandoned and neglected areas. my favorite part of the trees are the sensitive leave...Read Mores. i usually call them touch me nots because the leaves will close when disturbed by insects,animals,humans, and cold weather.

Also known as Small's acacia and huisache dulce. It is native to the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Lo...Read Moreuisianna , Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgen Islands. Sweet acacia is a naturalized (introduced) native plant in Hawaii.

This should be under Acacia farnesiana. It is native to tropical and subtropical areas in the Americas, including much of the most South...Read Moreern U.S. It may be native to other tropical and subtropical areas around the world.

Acacia minuta is Native to Texas and other States.

I have not grown this tree, but have observed it in its natural habitat and in landscape plantings.

Sweet Acacia (Texas hu...Read Moreisache) is a native tree or large shrub that can be found in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida. Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Texas and the Virgin Islands. In Texas, it grows in the South Texas Plains and Edwards Plateau regions. It tolerates both desert and lawn plantings, is fast growing to 15-30 feet, prefers full sun, is hardy to about 15 to 20 degrees F. and can be trained as a multiple- or single-trunked tree. It respouts readily when disturbed. Not picky about soil types, sweet acacia is easy to grow in any acid or alkaline soil. It is semi-deciduous to deciduous.

Sweet Acacias are popular and well-adapted shade trees for arid region landscapes being able to withstand some drought. It prefers moderate to slightly dry conditions so the soil should be allowed to dry between waterings; however, if subjected to long periods without water, it will survive, but the leaves will drop.

The canopy has a delicate, fern-like appearance due to the leaves being finely divided consisting of 10 to 20 pairs of tiny medium green, oval leaflets. With the resumption of new growth in spring when new leaves are being produced, they are shed. Sweet acacia is quite similar to twisted acacia; but, it has glands that are below the first pair of leaflets while twisted acacia has glands above the first pair of leaflets. The stems and branches are slightly rough, a rich chocolate brown or grey and possess long, sharp, multiple, slender, white to gray thorns. These thorns are conspicuous and readily visible. If desired, the thorns on the lower branches are easily removed with hand pruners.

From February to April, it produces numerous 1/4", yellowish-orange, fragrant flowers which look likepuff balls, They turn a beautiful rust color as the age. The blooms provide nectar for insects. Dark brown, glossy coated, cylindrical, 2 to 2 1/2 long and 1/4 to 3/8" in diameter seed pods appear after the blooming period. In the wild, white-tailed deer and javelina eat its fruit and quail, other birds and other wildlife eat the seeds. Quail, doves and other birds use this plant to nest, loaf, and as cover and small mammals sometimes forage sweet acacia. The wood has been used as firewood and posts and is employed in the production of other products including tanning, dying, ink, glue and perfume. Native Americans treated diaper rash and saddle sores with dried and powdered acacia leaves.

Sweet acacia may be propagated by cuttings or by seeds. Cuttings should be taken in summer and dipped in rooting hormone. Acacia seeds germinate in high numbers which some people find to be a real nuisance. Because of their hard shells, the seeds need some special treatment. Nick the bottom ends of the seeds need to be nicked with a knife or pair of clippers and placed in of hot (not boiling!) water. Sow after they have been soaked for two days.

Due to their desirable qualities which include fragrant blooms, shade, and dark green canopy, these trees are used in a wide array of landscape settings.The sweet acacias can be used as bank cover, courtyard, patio, streetcape, sidewalk, parking lot, highway beautification, landscape and individual accent trees. In the landscape, rapid tree growth and the fact that sweet acacia produces new branches all along the trunk make pruning a necessity especially during its first few years in order to establish the form and structure of the mature tree. This growth should be removed when it is ½" to 3/4" in diameter when it is easily cut with hand pruners or loppers. However, single and multiple trunked unpruned specimens best capture the natural beauty of the tree and improves resistance to wind damage. They have maximum bloom display and fragrance and are great trees in wildscapes, xeriscapes and in the background of rock gardens. It is among the most widely used desert trees.

Pests to which it is susceptible include flies, thrips, mites, scale and aphids. Occasionally anthracnose can infect leaves.

It's native to Central and Southern Florida. The flowers are very sweet smelling hence the name, they appear in late winter and appear a...Read Morefter every flush of new growth providing almost year round blooms. It has pretty fern-like foliage. It drops its leaves during drought in order to save water. It needs no irrigation once established. However it grows very slowly and has sharp thorns. Very attractive tree!

It has treacherous thorns, but the flowers are as sweet as any perfume. It prefers to grow on sandy soil and is salt tolerant.

About 11 years ago, we bought a house with about 6 acres. Our home sits 400 feet from the road, and I wanted to grow something that I di...Read Moredn't have to worry about watering next to the road. We've left the first half of the lot, completely wild. So, I bought two huisache plants. They are about 20 feet tall now, and I only watered them when I planted them (Kind of hard hauling water that far). Today (3-14-04) I got out of my car (as I said about 400 feet away) and a smell that makes me think of heaven assailed me. It was the huisache just starting to bloom. I've been told that they are killed by frost, but will grow back again. I'm in zone 8b. Everything else I have ever planted has done poorly here. I LOVE my huisache, and as an extra bonus, my deer don't!!