|
Acacia craspedocarpa (Leather-leaf Acacia) – A dense, rounded evergreen shrub to 8 feet tall by 5 feet wide with leathery 1 inch long broadly elliptical gray leaves (phyllodes) that are finely netted in green. The stems and new growth have coppery tones and the bark is somewhat fissured. The flowers in short, golden spikes (rods) appear in spring and at various other times through the year, and are followed by attractive flat, rounded bright-green seed pods.
Plant in full sun where it is very drought tolerant once established but also tolerates regular irrigation in well-drained soils. Cold hardy to 15° F.
Some sources in the desert southwest list it as a tree to 15-20 feet but it is so slow growing here along the coast that this is hard to imagine. It is an interesting small tree or shrub for a low screen.
The name Acacia comes either from the Greek word 'akazo' meaning "to sharpen" or from the Egyptian word 'akakia', a name given to the Egyptian Thorn, Acacia arabica and this specific epithet is from the Latin words 'crassus' meaning "solid" or "thick" with 'crasped translating to "broad" and carpus meaning fruit, so "thick fruited".
The information displayed on this page about Acacia craspedocarpa is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
|
