Black Wattle

Frost Tolerance: Grown trees are hardy to 20°F (-7°C) for short periods, young trees are more frost sensitive

Sun Exposure: Full sun

Origin: Southeastern Australia and Tasmania

Growth Habits: Evergreen tree, moderate rate of growth to 16 to 33 feet tall (5-10 m) or more; branchlets without prickles or thorns, shallowly ridged; all parts finely hairy; growth tips golden-hairy; dark olive-green, finely hairy, bipinnate, leaves; petioles 0.6 to 1 inch long (1.5-2.5 cm); rachis, 1.6 to 5 inches long (4-12 cm), with many raised glands on its upper side; 8 to 30 pinnae, each with 16 to 70 pairs of short, crowded leaflets (pinnules), 0.06 to 0.16 inch long (1.5-4 mm)

Watering Needs: Low water, needs good drainage

Propagation: Long lived seeds (needs hot water treatment), cutting under mist are quite difficult

This tree is named after Dr. Mearns, an American physician and naturalist working in Africa.

Blooming Habits:
Fragrant, pale yellow or cream, globose flowerheads, 0.2 to 0.3 inch in diameter (5-8 mm) in large panicles.

Fruiting Habits:
Dark brown or gray pods, finely hairy or occasionally glabrous, usually markedly constricted around the black seeds, 1.2 to 4 inches long (4-10 cm), 0.2 to 0.3 inch wide (5-8 mm).