Black Wattle
ExplorePlants
Black Wattle
acacia mearnsii
The Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) is a fast-growing leguminous tree native to southeastern Australia. Famed for its beautiful feathery foliage and fragrant pale yellow blooms, this resilient plant holds a dual reputation: it is both a highly valued commercial resource for tannin production and one of the world's most aggressive invasive species. It thrives in diverse climates, rapidly colonizing disturbed soils and altering ecosystems to its advantage. In its native habitats, it plays an important ecological role by stabilizing soils and providing habitat. However, when introduced abroad, its high reproductive rate, massive seed bank, and tolerance to fire allow it to easily displace native vegetation and deplete precious water resources.
Habitat: Typically found in open woodlands, forest margins, riparian zones, grasslands, and disturbed areas like roadsides.
Appearance
The Black Wattle is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree, typically reaching heights between 5 and 15 meters. It features dark olive-green, bipinnate leaves that have a soft, feathery appearance due to hundreds of tiny, tightly packed leaflets. Its bark is smooth and greenish-black on younger branches, maturing into a rough, dark brown to blackish bark with deep fissures. During late winter and spring, it produces spectacular, dense clusters of globular, pale yellow or cream-colored flowers that emit a sweet scent, which later develop into flat, dark brown, jointed seed pods.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusAcacia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
A single mature tree can produce tens of thousands of seeds each year, which can remain viable and sleep in the soil for up to 50 years before germinating.
Its bark contains an incredibly high concentration of soluble tannins (up to 40%), making it one of the premier global sources for vegetable leather tanning.
The Black Wattle is listed by the IUCN as one of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species.
Special abilities
Ability
Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis
Formulates mutualistic bonds with Rhizobium bacteria in its roots to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable soil nutrients, allowing it to colonize nutrient-poor soils.
Ability
Fire-Induced Germination
Produces seeds with a tough outer coat that can lie dormant in the soil for decades, which are stimulated to germinate rapidly en masse following the heat of a wildfire.
Ability
Allelopathic Suppression
Releases chemical compounds from its roots and decomposing leaf litter into the surrounding soil, inhibiting the germination and growth of competing native plant species.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 500-2000 cm
- Lifespan
- 10-30 years
Diet & Feeding
As an autotrophic plant, the Black Wattle produces its own energy via photosynthesis, absorbing sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and essential soil minerals.
Primary Foods
- Sunlight
- Carbon dioxide
- Water
- Soil nutrients
Ecological connections
mutualism
Rhizobium Bacteria
Rhizobium leguminosarum
Establishes a mutualistic relationship where the bacteria fix nitrogen in the tree's root nodules.
eaten by
Acacia Seed Weevil
Melanterius macrophylla
The larvae of this weevil feed directly on the developing seeds inside the pods, acting as a biological control agent.
eaten by
Pine Emperor Moth
Imbrasia cytherea
The large, colorful caterpillars of this moth feed heavily on the tree's foliage in areas where the tree is introduced.
Traits
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Also known as
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Black Wattle?
The easiest way to identify Black Wattle is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Black Wattle?
500-2000 cm
How long does Black Wattle live?
10-30 years
What does Black Wattle eat?
As an autotrophic plant, the Black Wattle produces its own energy via photosynthesis, absorbing sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and essential soil minerals.
Where is Black Wattle usually found?
Typically found in open woodlands, forest margins, riparian zones, grasslands, and disturbed areas like roadsides.
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