Green Wave Sticky Wattle Standard

Green Wave Sticky Wattle Standard (Acacia howittii 'Green Wave') is a native trained to a clear stem with a weeping ball of fine, sticky, aromatic foliage on top. As a standard it holds at about 3.5m tall and 2.5m wide, so it gives the shape of a formal tree in a footprint that fits a suburban front garden. Soft yellow flowers appear in spring, and the foliage moves in the slightest breeze.

Why you'll love it

• Formal shape from a native. A clean trunk and a weeping head give the structure usually reserved for clipped exotics, using an Australian plant.
• Movement and texture. The fine foliage hangs in curtains and shifts constantly in wind, which is why it reads so differently from a standard ball topiary.
• Fast to establish. Wattles grow quickly, so a young standard fills its head within a couple of seasons.
• Aromatic and alive with insects. The sticky foliage carries a resinous scent, and the spring flowers bring in bees and small birds.
• Handles exposure. Frost hardy, drought tolerant once established, wind tolerant and salt tolerant enough for coastal blocks.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A matched pair either side of an entry is the classic use, with the weeping head at eye level and the trunk leaving ground free for underplanting.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 1.5m apart for a formal screen or avenue. At that spacing the heads meet into a continuous weeping band while the trunks stay visible below.

Pots and courtyards. A pot 600mm or wider holds a standard for years, though potted plants need reliable water and firm staking against wind.

Growing Green Wave Sticky Wattle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the densest head; part shade gives a thinner, looser form. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is frost hardy once established.

Soil. Free draining soil of almost any type, including poor and sandy ground. Wattles dislike heavy wet clay, so raise the planting position on a mound if drainage is doubtful.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring, and avoid rich general purpose blends.

Pruning. Trim the head lightly after flowering to keep it round and dense, and rub off any shoots that appear on the trunk as soon as you see them, because they will take over if left. Be aware that wattles are relatively short lived, often 10 to 20 years, so treat it as a feature rather than a permanent structural tree.

What to expect when it arrives

Two sizes are available. The 300mm plants are the trained standards, already carrying a clear stem and a formed head, ready to plant as a feature. Tube stock is a young untrained plant and is currently on backorder; it takes several seasons of staking and pruning to make a standard from a tube.

Standards need a firm stake for the first two years, as the head catches wind before the trunk thickens. Plants travel upright and some leaf drop after transit is normal. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, with a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to grow and care for acacias
• Browse Australian native trees
• Compare trees suited to driveways and avenues
• Native plants with yellow flowers

Common questions

How far apart do I plant them along a drive?

1.5m apart for a continuous weeping screen, or 2.5m to 3m if you want each standard read as a separate shape.

How long does it live?

Most wattles are short lived, commonly 10 to 20 years in cultivation. Plant it for the effect it gives now, not as the permanent backbone of the garden.

Does the trunk need staking?

Yes, for the first two years. The weeping head acts like a sail, and an unstaked young standard will lean or snap in strong wind.