Acacia iteaphylla: Willow Wattle, Fine-Leaf Evergreen Shrub for Xeriscape

💛 Acacia iteaphylla: A Graceful, Frost-Tolerant Wattle

Acacia iteaphylla, commonly known as the Flinders Ranges Wattle or Willow Wattle, is an elegant and highly desirable evergreen shrub native to South Australia.¹ It is prized for its graceful, weeping habit and its delicate, yet tough, foliage.² The plant features long, slender, blue-green to grayish-green phyllodes (flattened leaf stalks that function as leaves) which lend it a soft, willow-like appearance and provide year-round fine texture.³

This acacia bursts into spectacular bloom in the cooler months, typically in late fall and winter, producing an abundance of soft, fluffy golden-yellow flower balls. The masses of fragrant blooms contrast beautifully with the muted blue-green foliage, creating a luminous display. Acacia iteaphylla is exceptionally drought-tolerant, fast-growing, and adaptable to a wide range of well-drained soils, making it an excellent, low-maintenance choice for screens, hedges, slopes, and water-wise Mediterranean and xeriscape gardens.⁴

Botanical Characteristics

Mature Size

Acacia iteaphylla grows quickly into a manageable large shrub or small, graceful tree.⁵

• Height: Typically reaches 8–15 feet (2.4–4.5 meters) tall.
• Spread: Achieves a dense, spreading canopy of 10–15 feet (3–4.5 meters) wide.⁶
• Its fast-growing nature makes it excellent for quick screening.

USDA Hardiness Zone

This Australian native is moderately cold-hardy, suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8b–11.⁷ It can tolerate short, minor frosts but requires protection from prolonged freezing temperatures.

Cultivation and Care

Landscape Use

• Screen/Hedge: Excellent for creating a quick, dense evergreen screen or informal hedge.⁸
• Erosion Control: Ideal for stabilizing dry, sunny slopes due to its expansive root system.
• Specimen Shrub: Used as a focal point to provide fine texture and dramatic winter color.⁹
• Xeriscape: A premier choice for low-water, fire-wise gardening due to its toughness.

Wildlife Attraction

The abundant fragrant yellow flowers in winter are a critical source of pollen for bees and beneficial insects, providing essential forage when few other plants are blooming. The foliage is generally deer resistant.

Pest and Disease Resistance

Acacia iteaphylla is generally robust and healthy. The primary concerns are related to overly wet conditions, which can lead to root rot.¹⁰ Occasionally susceptible to scale or mealybugs, which should be treated systemically.

Propagation

This species is easily propagated by seed, which should be treated (nicked or soaked in hot water) to break dormancy due to its hard coating.¹¹ It can also be propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings taken in late summer.