Sticky Wattle

Sticky Wattle (Acacia howittii) is a fast weeping screen tree from south-eastern Australia that reaches about 6m tall and 3.5m wide. The small dark leaves are faintly sticky and release a resinous scent when brushed, and the branches hang in soft curtains. Yellow flowers cover the canopy in late winter and early spring.

Why you'll love it

• Height, quickly. Few evergreens at this size cover a new fence line as fast.
• A weeping screen, not a wall. The arching branches read as a curtain of foliage, so it never looks boxy untrimmed.
• Scent in two forms. The foliage is aromatic when you brush past it, and the winter flowering is fragrant and busy with bees.
• Built for exposure. Wind tolerant, salt tolerant, drought tolerant and content in poor soil, so coastal blocks and rural boundaries suit it.

Where it works best

Screening and hedging. Plant 2m apart in a single row for a tall screen. Left alone it runs to 6m; two trims a year hold it at 3m to 4m.

Windbreaks and coastal gardens. A staggered double row at 2m spacing filters wind instead of blocking it, which is what an exposed rural or seaside block needs.

Feature planting. On its own the weeping habit is worth showing, particularly against a fence or wall.

Growing Sticky Wattle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is frost hardy once established.

Soil. Drainage matters and richness does not. Sandy, gravelly and poor soils all grow it well. Skip the heavy compost, and on clay plant on a raised mound.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in long dry spells. Most plants never need feeding; if growth stalls, use a low phosphorus native fertiliser in spring and nothing stronger.

Pruning. Tip prune from planting and trim after flowering to keep it dense. Never cut back into bare old wood, because it will not reshoot from it. Regular trimming also keeps a fast growing plant from going top heavy in wind.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes as tube stock, packs of ten 140mm plants, packs of six 200mm plants and packs of three 250mm plants. Tube stock is the standard choice for a long boundary or a windbreak, and it usually catches the larger sizes inside two seasons. The 250mm plants are the pick if you want visible height in the first year.

Expect a metre or more of growth a year in a warm garden once the roots are away. One honest note: like most wattles this is not a hundred year tree, so plan on fifteen to twenty good years. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our acacia care guide for planting and pruning detail.
• Compare heights across screening plants from 4m to 8m.
• Browse the wider range of Australian native trees.
• On an exposed block, see other plants for windbreaks.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Two metres apart in a single row. Closer planting does not close the screen sooner and crowds the lower branches into bare stems.

How fast does it grow?

Fast. A metre or more a year in a warm garden with water in the first summer, slower in cool temperate districts and on very dry sites.

Can I keep it below 6m?

Yes. Two trims a year hold it comfortably at 3m to 4m. The one rule is to keep the cuts in leafy growth, since wattles do not reshoot from bare wood.

How long will it live?

Fifteen to twenty years is a realistic working life, which is normal for a fast wattle. Many gardeners plant it as a quick screen while a slower long term tree grows up behind it.