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Products > Plants - Browse Alphabetically > Acacia rigens   Acacia rigens - Nealie   Working on getting this plant out in the field but it is not yet available listing for information only!    Habit and Cultural Information Category: Shrub Family: Mimosaceae (~Fabales) Origin: Australia (Australasia) Flower Color: Yellow Bloomtime: Spring Height: 8-12 feet Width: 6-8 feet Exposure: Full Sun Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F Acacia rigens (Nealie) A fast growing large upright growing shrub 9 to 15 feet tall by 5 to 9 feet wide with nearly vertical stems holding the 1 1/2 to 3 inch long rigid gray narrow rounded leaves (terete phyllodes) that are like blunt needles. In later winter into spring appear the bright yellow quarter inch wide flowerheads with 20 to 30 tiny flowers that are held in groups up to four in the leaf axils. 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. This plant grows throughout much Australia and is found 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 page is based on research conducted in our library and from reliable online resources. We also relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we visit, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others, and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.     [MORE INFO]