Browse plants / Fabaceae
River wattle Acacia cognata
Also called Bower wattle
When it flowers
- January, not flowering
- February, not flowering
- March, not flowering
- April, not flowering
- May, not flowering
- June, not flowering
- July, not flowering
- August, flowering
- September, flowering
- October, flowering
- November, not flowering
- December, not flowering
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Graceful wattle with fine, weeping foliage and pale yellow balls in spring.
Grows naturally along creeks in south-eastern NSW and eastern Victoria. Its long, narrow phyllodes hang in soft curtains, and pale yellow flowers cover it in spring. The species is the parent of popular dwarf forms such as 'Limelight'.
In the garden
- Flowers
- Pale lemon-yellow ball flowers.
- Leaves
- Long, very narrow, soft weeping phyllodes; new growth bronze.
- Attracts
- Birds, pollinating insects and shelter for small wildlife
Growing conditions
- Climate
- Temperate and cool and alpine
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Sandy, loam and clay
- Drainage
- Copes with occasional wet
- Frost
- Moderate frost
- Water
- Some dry spells
Planting and care
- Grown from
- Seed and cuttings
Planting
Sun or part shade; does well in moist soil and near water.
Pruning
Prune lightly straight after flowering to keep it dense; it doesn't regrow well from old wood.
Care
No fertiliser needed: like all wattles it fixes its own nitrogen. Older plants are prone to borers and gall wasps.
Where it comes from
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Order
- Fabales
- Native to
- New South Wales and Victoria
- Natural range
- Creek banks of south-eastern NSW and eastern Victoria.
Cultivars and forms
-
Limelight wattle
Acacia cognata 'Limelight'
0.6–1 m, shrub
Shrub, 0.6–1 m tall, 0.8–1.2 m wide
Full sun to part shade- January, not flowering
- February, not flowering
- March, not flowering
- April, not flowering
- May, not flowering
- June, not flowering
- July, not flowering
- August, not flowering
- September, not flowering
- October, not flowering
- November, not flowering
- December, not flowering
Where to buy
Widely available.
We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.
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Further reading
- Acacia cognata on the Atlas of Living Australia (Atlas of Living Australia)
Native nurseries near you
An independent list of nurseries that specialise in Australian native plants. Nobody pays to be on it. Distances are approximate and in a straight line. Opening hours and stock vary, so check before you go.