Sticky Wattle / Howitt's Wattle
Botanical Name: Acacia howittii
Family: Fabaceae
Origin: Gippsland, Victoria (south-eastern Australia)
Plant Type: Evergreen large shrub to small tree
Overview
Acacia howittii forms a graceful, pendulous shrub/small tree with fine, dark- to mid-green phyllodes (often a little sticky when young). In late winter–spring, it produces pale yellow, globular flower heads that are lightly perfumed, bringing colour and pollinators. Fast-growing and hardy, it’s excellent for informal screening or as a feature in SA’s temperate/Mediterranean gardens.
Key Features
-
Mature Size: 4-8 m H x 3-5 m W (can be kept smaller with pruning)
-
Growth Rate: 30-60 cm per year under good conditions
-
Foliage: Narrow, lanceolate phyllodes; fine, pendulous texture
-
Flowers: Pale yellow “pom-poms” in late winter–spring; lightly fragrant
-
Seasonal Interest: Winter–spring bloom; year-round fine texture
-
Wildlife Value: Nectar/pollen for insects; shelter for small birds
-
Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established; heat and wind tolerant; hardy to light–moderate frost; suitable for second-line coastal sites; clay loam OK if well-drained.
-
Planting Density: Informal screen: 1-2m apart, Mixed border/mass: 1-1.5m apart, Specimen: 3-4m from the next large shrub/tree
-
Pet Friendly: Non-toxic / pet-friendly (as with any plant, ingestion of large amounts may cause mild tummy upset).
Where It Works Best
-
Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
-
Soil: Well-drained loam or clay loam; tolerates neutral to slightly alkaline; avoid boggy sites
-
Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 2–3 weeks in summer (weekly in heatwaves); seldom in winter—only if dry
-
Maintenance: Light prune after flowering (tolerates harder shaping if needed); mulch in spring
-
Lifespan: 15–25 years (longer in ideal, free-draining conditions)
-
Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA; second-line coastal OK
-
Soil pH: Neutral (tolerates slight alkalinity)
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Privacy hedge/screen for boundaries and side fences
- Fast green backdrop for mixed native beds
- Feature small tree with graceful, weeping habit
- Habitat planting for birds and pollinators
- Wind-filter for exposed sites (second-line coastal)
Why You Will Love It
Fast, graceful and lightly perfumed in bloom—this wattle delivers reliable structure with minimal fuss.
