Acacia Howittii

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.