Weeping Myall

Weeping Myall (Acacia pendula) is the silver tree for hard country: a weeping wattle from inland Eastern Australia that grows to about 8m tall and 5m wide, with pendulous silver grey foliage that reads almost blue against a summer sky. It is grown for that foliage and its sculptural form rather than for flowers, and it holds its looks through frost, heat, drought and poor soil that would finish most feature trees.

Why you'll love it

• Silver, weeping and sculptural. The drooping curtain of grey foliage gives the presence of an ornamental pear or olive, on a tree that belongs here.
• Genuinely inland proof. Frost hardy yet heat and drought tolerant, it suits the districts where summer and winter both punish soft trees.
• A natural avenue tree. Matched trees along a drive or entry read formal without any clipping.
• Shade and shelter in one. The canopy casts filtered shade, and rows of it make a windbreak that stock, sheds and gardens sit comfortably behind.
• Low maintenance and bird friendly. Beyond establishment watering it asks for little, and birds use the dense weeping canopy for cover.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single tree in a lawn or courtyard carries the garden's silver theme year round, and the weeping habit reads as considered rather than busy.

Driveways and avenues. Space trees about 5m apart so the crowns just meet at maturity. The effect is a soft silver colonnade that needs no pruning regime.

Windbreaks. On exposed rural or open suburban boundaries, a row at that same spacing filters hot westerlies and cold winter winds alike.

Shade tree. The filtered shade beneath it is bright enough for grass to persist, which is more than most dense canopies allow.

Growing Weeping Myall in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun always. It is at its best in warm temperate, cool temperate, arid and Mediterranean climates. It is not a tree for the humid tropics or subtropical coast, where constant wet air works against it.

Soil. Remarkably tolerant, including the poor and heavier soils of inland blocks. Good drainage is preferred, so mound the planting spot slightly if water lingers after rain.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first summer, then taper to occasional deep drinks in extended dry periods. Established trees need no routine fertiliser; a native controlled release at planting is enough to start it.

Pruning. Very little. Establish a clear trunk while the tree is young, then let the weeping canopy do its work. Heavy pruning spoils the form.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Weeping Myall as an advanced 100L tree, so what arrives is a genuine specimen with formed trunk and canopy rather than a seedling you wait a decade for. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Plant it with the root ball watered in thoroughly, keep the deep soaks up through the first summer, and it establishes without drama.

Orders are delivered Australia wide, with a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The waterwise garden guide
• Browse Australian native trees
• More feature trees to compare
• Drought tolerant plants for dry gardens

Common questions

Does it flower like other wattles?

Only sporadically, and the small yellow flowers are incidental. This is a foliage and form tree; if you want a wattle for golden flower displays, choose a flowering species instead.

Will it grow on the humid coast?

It is happiest inland and in southern climates. In the humid subtropics and tropics it struggles, so coastal Queensland gardens should look to other silver foliage trees.

How far apart for an avenue or windbreak?

About 5m between trees. That lets each crown develop its full weeping shape while the row still closes into a continuous line at maturity.

What size tree will I receive?

A 100L advanced tree with real height and a formed canopy, giving the avenue or feature effect years sooner than small stock could. Water it in deeply on planting day and treat the first summer as the establishment season.