Plant in full sun in a well-drained light to heavy and even alkaline soils and irrigate occasionally to infrequently - a drought tolerant plant once established and cold hardy down to around 18° F. An attractive and unusual plant that is beautiful in flower and easy to grow. It can be used for a windbreak or light screen and can also grow well as a container plant for several years.

Acacia rigens grows throughout much of Australia from southern Western Australia through South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The name for the genus 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. The specific epithet is from the Latin word meaning "stiff", "rigid" or "unbending" and thought to be a reference to the rigidity of the phyllodes. Other common names include Needle Wattle and Needlebush Acacia. We thank Jo O'Connell of Australian Native Plant Nursery for introducing us to this wonderful plant and for the picture of it in flower. 

The information about Acacia rigens displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.