[medit-plants] Re: Acacias

The California Invasive Plant Council rates the following Acacia species:

Acacia dealbata (silver wattle) - moderate
Acacia melanoxylon (black acacia, blackwood acacia) - limited

A. longifolia is not listed, nor are other species.  The above two species are indeed a problem in wild lands, according to my own observations.  They are also very difficult to irradiate (sprouting from any bit of root left in the ground) from gardens where they are present!  Neither are available in the trade.  Various well-behaved Acacia species appear in our local nursery trade at times, but they are less common than in the past.


On Sat, Mar 11, 2017 at 9:09 AM, Alexandre Leonardo <a*@hotmail.com> wrote:

Isn't A. longifolia an invasive in California? Here in Portugal has an invasive behaviour and has a major impact on autoctonous plants in some areas of the country. I think that all acacias are banned from comerce here (not sure about this info)


Alexandre Leonardo



De: medit-plants-bounce@freelists.org <medit-plants-bounce@freelists.org> em nome de Sean A. O'Hara <s*@gimcw.org>
Enviado: sábado, 11 de março de 2017 16:20
Para: m*@freelists.org
Assunto: [medit-plants] Acacias
 
This blooming specimen (see attached) of Acacia longifolia stopped me in my tracks the other day - formerly (a few decades ago) one of the most commonly planted species of this genus in our area, now rarely seen.  I understand this species is prized in Australia.  It caused me to reflect on this passage I had just read:

"With every fresh onslaught of bloom we are captured but never astonished. We had known all the time that it was there, ready with its insignificant buds unseen overhead until they burst against the warm blue sky. Then we stare with inexpressible delight. No matter how common it becomes we will never take the acacia for a common tree. In the light gold of refinement of its flowering we have a total experience. With its weightless mass of glimmering bloom it wipes us out."
Hildegarde Flanner, speaking of Acacias in 'At The Gentle Mercy of Plants'
(http://survivorbb.rapeutation.com/viewtopic.php?f=89&t=2350#p15671)

I have also been thinking of an Acacia I saw on the FB mediterranean climate gardening group, growing in the garden of Barry Garcia (see attached).  It is A. baileyana, but the new growth comes out chartreuse!  I think it is quite beautiful and have a vague memory that I may have read about such a form sometime in the past (can't find such a reference as yet).

Both of these show that even what is considered commonplace can surprise us.

Seán A O'Hara
seanaohara.wordpress.com
Seán A O'Hara. These pages contain information for the various internet (and other) things I have been working on over the years. They help me keep track of projects ...


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