Forest & Kim Starr
Family
Fabaceae
Botanical Name
Acacia aneura
Plant Common Name
Mulga
General Description
The mulga tree is tough yet delicate in appearance, especially when in bloom. It is ideally planted as a small pretty accent tree for residents in desert environments and originates from inland Australia. In its native habitat trees can live for centuries if not damaged by fire. This is unusual among the acacias, which tend to be short-lived.
The trees are evergreen, thornless and have variable and irregular crowns. The leaves are made up of long, linear, needle-like leaf stems that are blue-green. These stand upright to reduce exposure to bright hot sun, which minimizes water-loss. Its bright yellow bottlebrush-like flowers appear in late winter or early spring. These are fragrant, cover the canopy and are a good nectar source for honeybees. The seedpods are flat, round and blend with the foliage.
Plant this tough adaptable tree in sunny locations with poor to average well-drained soil. Like many members of the pea family, this acacia fixes nitrogen into nutrient-poor desert soils, which is a real plus. It is a reliable tree for limited spaces because it is slow-growing and small. A note to those living in fire zones: mulga is not likely to re-sprout from the roots after wildfire, so it is not a good tree for areas where fires are frequent.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 10
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USDA Hardiness Zone
10 - 11
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Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Tree
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
18'-20' / 5.5m - 6.1m
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Width
10'-12' / 3.0m - 3.7m
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Bloom Time
Spring, Late Winter
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Native To
Australia
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant
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Habit
Upright/Erect
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Seasonal Interest
Spring
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Lemon Yellow
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Fruit Color
Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Blue Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Blue Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Blue Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Blue Green
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Bark Color
Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
