Silver Wattle

Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata) is the fast native answer to a bare boundary, reaching around 9m tall and 6m wide with ferny silver grey foliage and fragrant golden flower balls from late winter. A true south eastern Australian native, frost hardy and drought tolerant, it grows at a pace that makes a new block feel planted within a couple of seasons.

Why you'll love it

• Speed where it counts. One of the fastest native trees, it screens, shades and shelters years ahead of slower choices.
• Winter gold. Masses of perfumed yellow blossom arrive from late winter, lighting up the garden at its dullest time of year.
• A working tree for wildlife. The flowers feed bees and butterflies, and birds use the canopy for insects and shelter all year.
• Thrives on neglect. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, wind tolerant and untroubled by poor soil, it suits new estates and exposed rural blocks.
• Silver foliage that earns the name. The fine, feathery leaves read as soft silver grey against darker trees.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 4m apart for a fast informal screen along a boundary. It thins at ground level with age, so underplant with shrubs if you need cover to the ground.

Windbreaks. A row at 4m spacing establishes quickly into effective shelter for exposed paddocks and plains, flexing in wind rather than breaking.

Shade and feature planting. A single specimen casts light, dappled shade that lawns and beds tolerate well, and the winter flowering makes it a genuine feature rather than just a workhorse.

Growing Silver Wattle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean climates. It handles hard frost and dry summers once established. It is not the pick for the humid subtropical and tropical coast, where other wattles do better.

Soil. Almost anything with drainage, including the poor, stony and sandy soils that defeat exotic trees. Loosen the planting hole and leave it at that.

Water and feed. Water deeply once a week through the first summer, then let it fend for itself except in severe drought. It fixes its own nitrogen and rarely needs feeding.

Pruning. Tip prune lightly after flowering to keep the canopy dense. It suckers freely, so mow or remove suckers as they appear and keep the tree away from paving and pipes.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Silver Wattle as an advanced 45L tree, so you are planting real height on day one rather than waiting on a tube. Wattles establish fast: expect a few weeks of settling, then strong growth through the warm months and flowering within the first couple of winters. One honest note: its working life is around 20 to 30 years. Plant it for quick shelter and winter colour while slower trees mature behind it.

Trees are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Native plants with yellow flowers
• Browse Australian native trees
• Plants for windbreaks and shelter
• Top bird attracting native plants

Common questions

How fast does Silver Wattle grow?

Very fast for a tree, especially in its first five years, which is when it does its screening work. A metre a year is realistic in reasonable conditions, quicker with summer water.

How long does it live?

Around 20 to 30 years, typical of fast growing wattles. Treat it as the quick first act of a garden: it shelters the slower, longer lived trees that take over as it declines.

Will it damage paths or pipes?

It suckers freely and roots run near the surface, so keep it away from paving, driveways and pipework, and mow off any suckers that appear in lawn. In open ground the habit causes no trouble.

How far apart for a windbreak?

Plant 4m apart in a single row, or stagger two rows at the same spacing for serious shelter on exposed sites. The trees knit into effective wind protection within a few seasons.

Western Australia: this plant is listed as an environmental weed in WA, where it escapes from gardens into bushland. We do not recommend it for WA gardens. Please choose a local alternative.