Acacia Baileyana Purpurea
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Purple Cootamundra Wattle / Purple Wattle
Botanical Name: Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea’
Family: Fabaceae
Origin: New South Wales (Cootamundra region), Australia
Plant Type: Evergreen large shrub to small tree
Overview
Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea’ is prized for its purple-tinged new growth that matures to blue-grey, ferny foliage, creating year-round contrast. From late winter to spring it covers itself in masses of bright yellow, globular flowers, bringing colour and pollinators at a quiet time of year. Fast-growing and low-maintenance, it’s excellent as a feature or informal screen in SA’s temperate/Mediterranean gardens.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 4-8 m H x 3-6 m W (can be kept smaller with pruning)
- Growth Rate: 50-90 cm per year under good conditions
- Foliage: Bipinnate (fern-like); new growth purple, maturing blue-grey
- Flowers: Golden “pom-poms” in late winter–spring (lightly fragrant)
- Seasonal Interest: Purple new growth + winter–spring bloom
- Wildlife Value: Nectar/pollen for insects; habitat for small birds
- Tolerance: Drought-Tolerant, Heat-Tolerant, Frost Hardy, Wind-Tolerant, Coastal-Tolerant (sheltered/second line), Clay-Tolerant (well-drained)
- Planting Density: Informal screen 1–2/m; specimen 3–4 m spacing
- Pet Friendly: Non-toxic / pet-friendly (as with any plant, ingestion may cause mild tummy upset)
Where It Works Best
- Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
- Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or clay loam; tolerates neutral to alkaline pH; avoid waterlogging
- Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: occasional deep soak in extended dry spells
- Maintenance: Light prune after flowering to shape; avoid very hard cuts into old wood; mulch in spring
- Lifespan: 10-20 years
- Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA; suitable for second-line coastal sites
- Soil pH: Neutral (tolerates slight alkalinity)
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Informal screening and quick garden structure
- Feature for winter colour
- Native/bird-friendly gardens
- Backdrop for lower shrubs and grasses
Why You Will Love It
Fast, bold and beautiful: purple flushes, blue-grey foliage and a spectacular winter bloom make this wattle a standout with minimal fuss.