Browse plants / Fabaceae
Hedge wattle Acacia paradoxa
Also called Kangaroo thorn
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, flowering
- December, not flowering
Dense, spiny wattle covered in golden balls in spring, a safe haven for small birds.
A tangled shrub armed with sharp spines, so it makes an impenetrable barrier and shelters small birds from cats and larger birds. Bright golden flowers cover it in spring.
In the garden
- Flowers
- Bright golden ball flowers along the stems.
- Leaves
- Small, wavy-edged dark green phyllodes with a pair of sharp spines at each base.
- Attracts
- Birds, pollinating insects and shelter for small wildlife
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Sandy, loam and clay
- Drainage
- Needs good drainage
- Frost
- Hard frost
- Water
- Very drought tolerant
- Climate
- Dry summers (Mediterranean), temperate and cool and alpine
Planting and care
- Grown from
- Seed
Planting
Sun or part shade; space 1.5 m apart for a barrier hedge.
Pruning
Clip after flowering to keep it dense; it takes regular trimming.
Care
No fertiliser needed: like all wattles it fixes its own nitrogen. Older plants are prone to borers and gall wasps.
Safety
Sharp spines along every stem. Wear thick gloves and keep it away from paths.
Where it comes from
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Order
- Fabales
- Native to
- ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria
- Natural range
- Dry forest and woodland across south-eastern Australia.
Where to buy
Specialist native nurseries.
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 paradoxa 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.