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Acacia melanoxylon - R.Br.

Common Name Blackwood, Australia Acacia, Black Acacia, Blackwood Acacia
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness 9-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Wet forests on good soils up to the montane zone[152, 154]. Usually an under-storey tree in Eucalyptus forests[167].
Range Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria. Locally naturalized in S.W. Europe[50].
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood, Australia Acacia, Black Acacia, Blackwood Acacia


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ixitixel
Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood, Australia Acacia, Black Acacia, Blackwood Acacia

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Brown, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Spreading or horizontal, Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Acacia melanoxylon is an evergreen Tree growing to 30 m (98ft 5in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower in April. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Secondary; Sunny Edge; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers
Edible Uses:

Flowers - cooked[144]. Rich in pollen, they are often used in fritters. The flowers have a penetrating scent[245].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antirheumatic

Antirheumatic[152].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Dye  Soil stabilization  Tannin  Wood

A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[168]. A green dye is obtained from the seed pods[168]. The extensive root system of this plant helps to prevent soil erosion[200]. The bark is rich in tannin[152]. Wood - hard, dark, close grained, high quality, takes a high polish. Used for furniture, fittings etc[1, 4, 11, 154, 156, 167].

Special Uses

Nitrogen Fixer  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Pest tolerant, Specimen, Street tree. Prefers a sandy loam and a very sunny position[1]. Prefers a deep moist soil[167]. Succeeds in a hot dry position[166]. Succeeds in any good garden soil that is not excessively limey[11]. Most members of this genus become chlorotic on limey soils[200]. This is one of the hardier members of the genus, tolerating temperatures down to about -10°c[260]. It succeeds outdoors in Britain from Dorset westwards, also in south-western Scotland and in Ireland[1, 11]. However, even in the mildest areas of the country it is liable to be cut back to the ground in excessively cold winters though it can resprout from the base[11]. It is planted for timber in south-west Europe[50]. This species produces both phyllodes (basically a flattened stem that looks and acts like a leaf) and true leaves[1, 166]. The roots are very vigorous and extensive - they often produce suckers[260] and can damage the foundations of buildings[200]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200]. Special Features:Attracts birds, Not North American native, Attractive flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a warm greenhouse[1]. Stored seed should be scarified, pre-soaked for 12 hours in warm water and then sown in a warm greenhouse in March. The seed germinates in 3 - 4 weeks at 25°c[133]. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in individual pots in a frame[78]. Overwinter in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Fair percentage[78].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

This plant can be weedy or invasive in Hawaii.[1c]

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

R.Br.

Botanical References

11154200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

mr & mrs burns   Thu Nov 17 2005

hello. my partner and i are doing an assignment on blackwood/ acacia. this has been helpful.

pat   Mon Oct 13 2008

ive heard it can be used as an analgaesic, which part of the plant is used for this? How is it prepared? any information would be very helpful and i understand that you cannot be held responsible for any adverse affects of using the plant

David Nicholls   Tue Oct 14 2008

Ref 152 states that the Australian Aborigines treated Rheumatic joints with a heated infusion of roasted bark. It seems conceivable they were treating the pain rather than eliminating the rheumatism itself. The same reference only mentions tannins as chemical constituents of the bark.

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Subject : Acacia melanoxylon  
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