The Garden Magazine, December, 1920 
201 
tionable. A. Baileyana is a heavy feeder, but this fact is some- 
what compensated for by the delightful contrast its gray foliage 
makes with shrubs of a dark green. 
The wide variation in the character of foliage in different 
species sharply divides the Acacia family; this distinction is so 
marked that many of them cannot be grouped together. The 
“foliage” ranges in color from a yellowish to a dark, sombre 
green. The best known kinds belong in a class with members 
having simple, broad to linear-lanceolate “ leaves,” or, to be 
more accurate, phyllodia (petiolate leaves). 
Acacia latifolia (A. longifolia) is a small sized tree of rather 
straggly growth; broad, coarse, flat leaves, olive green in color; 
will thrive equally well in hot, dry regions, or near the sea shore. 
A. retinodes floribunda (or A. neriifolia as it is sometimes called), 
is a quick growing tree of exceedingly graceful habit of growth; 
the inflorescence is scattered, but of a rich canary-yellow. Acacia 
pycnantha (Golden Wattle) is a small, round-headed tree with 
broad, lanceolate to obovate leaves; it is quite ornamental; has 
flowers of a golden yellow. One Acacia of this group with a 
slight differentiation in leaf-shape is A. melanoxylon, or the 
Australian Blackwood, much used as a timber tree in Australia. 
It is a prodigious grower in California, of handsome appearance, 
despite its insignificant yellowish-white inflorescence, which is 
followed by seed-pods that make streets and sidewalks very 
dirty. The foliage, seen from a distance, is 
dark olive-green in color; the individual 
leaves are curled. 
The Golden Wattle (A. pycnantha) and 
the Blue-leaved Wattle (A. cyanophylla), are 
closely allied. The latter is a tall shrub in 
habit, with foliage of a decided blue tint, and 
with deep, golden-yellow flower- heads. A. 
saligna is similar to A. cyanophylla, except 
in the color of its foliage. The Golden 
Wattle, the Blue-leaved Wattle, and A. 
saligna, with A. floribunda as an occasional 
accent, may be very effectively grouped, due 
heed being paid to the height and spread of 
branches of each species. 
Acacia armata, spreading in growth, is 
quite a distinctive ornamental, with small, 
deep green phyllodia, each tipped with a 
small, sharp thorn; the solitary flowerheads 
are borne all along the branches. It ap- 
pears to best advantage when reinforced 
by other specimens of the same species, al- 
though A. cultriformis and A. pravissima 
may be planted with it. 
A. cultriformis is distinguished by having 
iong and willowy yellow branches; leaves 
small, acute, glaucous; the flower-heads are 
in clusters. A. pravissima is a shrub of 
upright growth with slender, drooping 
branches; leaves similar in appearance to 
those of A. cultriformis, but smaller and 
sage green in color. 
Taking into account the habits of growth 
of each and placing the species with the 
lightest colored foliage in front, quite an 
effective grouping may be obtained with 
the A. armata type. A new species, A. 
podalyriaefolia has been recently added to 
the trade. It is described as having leaves 
like A. cultriformis, and covered with a sil- 
very down, as are the branches. 
Acacia verticillata is perhaps the most 
remarkable species in the entire Acacia 
group. Except for the characteristic deep- 
yellow inflorescence in the form of dense 
spikes, one-half to one inch long, this shrub 
is quite unlike the rest of its family. The 
phyllodia, usually a half to three quarters of an inch long, are 
in whorls, awl-shaped, linear, sharply pointed, and dark green. 
The branches droop in an exceedingly graceful manner. Massed 
it makes a splendid effect but care must be taken not to 
mix other species with it, or to add types of shrubs totally dis- 
similar in foliage. A. juniperina has numerous, needle-like 
leaves, similar in appearance to those of A. verticillata, though 
smaller. The pale vellow inflorescence is in the form of solitary 
stalked heads. 
In the last group to be named are included some of the most 
beautiful forms of the Acacia. These are the species having 
finely divided leaves, pinnate to twice pinnate; varying in height 
from shrubs to tall trees; and in color of inflorescence from yel- 
lowish-white to deep golden yellow. In Acacia Baileyana 
the pinnae are in several pairs, which are again divided into 
many pairs of leaflets, giving the tree a feathery appearance. 
The entire tree is very glaucous in effect, and when in bloom 
is very beautiful, displaying a deep golden inflorescence against 
its grayish-white foliage. Indeed, it is so distinctive as to be 
best planted alone. 
The Silver Wattle (A. dealbata, sometimes called A. mollis- 
sima), is one of the most popular of the Acacias. The foliage is 
feathery and the rich green of the finely divided leaves often 
has a beautiful silvery sheen. The flower-heads are a clear 
GREENHOUSE GROWN ACACIAS IN THE EAST 
As spring flowered shrubs for Easter and for cut bloom the Acacias have recently acquired a decided 
prominence. At the Boston Show in March, 1920, the group by Thomas Roland was a special feature. 
The following species are included: Top row left to right: A. pulchella, Baileyana, pubescens, longifolia, grandis; 2nd 
row: A. heterophylla (2 plants); 3rd row: A. verticillata, longifolia, 2 vars; 4th row: A. lineata, diffura, heterophylla 
