Alternative Name(s): Blue leaved wattle, Orange wattle Family: Fabaceae Form: Shrub Origin: Native to the south west corner of Western Australia, mainly in coastal areas. Weed Type(s): Weed, Noxious Weed, Naturalised, Native Weed, Introduced, garden Escape, Environmental Weed, Cultivation Escape

© M. Fagg, Australian National Botanical Gardens

Notes: Golden wreath wattle is a medium-sized shrub up to 10m tall and 6m wide. The pendulous branches are often blue-grey in colour when young. Bright golden flowers borne profusely in spring develop into smooth brown pods.

It is fast-growing and widely used in parks and for erosion control. It was the main source of tanbark in the south west of Western Australia. It regenerates well from seed spreading rapidly.

It is a major weed in South Africa where it has been used to stabilise sand dunes. It has become a weed in eastern NSW and has been planted as a 'native' in South Australia where it is invading bushland. Locally native wattles should be planted instead of Golden wreath wattle.

References:

Randall, R. P. (2002). A Global Compendium of Weeds. R. G. & F.J. Richardson, Melbourne.
Wrigley, J. W. and Fagg, M. (2003). Australian Native Plants. Reed New Holland, Sydney.