Acacia dealbata

Common name: Mimosa / Silver Wattle

Description: Acacia dealbata, widely known in Britain as Mimosa, is a fast-growing evergreen tree prized for its feathery, silvery blue-green foliage and its spectacular display of fragrant, golden-yellow flowers in late winter and early spring. The finely divided, fern-like leaves are covered in a soft, silvery bloom that shimmers in the slightest breeze, giving the tree a light, airy elegance throughout the year. From January to March, when little else is in bloom, the branches are laden with fluffy, bright yellow pompom flowers carried in large, billowing sprays and releasing a sweet, honeyed fragrance. In the UK, Mimosa performs best in a warm, sheltered, sunny position, such as against a south- or west-facing wall, and is a rewarding choice for milder regions, coastal gardens and sheltered urban courtyards. Young plants grow rapidly and can be trained as a single-stemmed tree or multi-stemmed specimen, bringing an exotic, Mediterranean feel to the garden and an uplifting splash of colour at the darkest time of year.

Other benefits: fragrant golden-yellow flowers in late winter and early spring; silvery, feathery evergreen foliage year-round; fast-growing; drought tolerant once established; ideal for sheltered, sunny walls and courtyards

Wildlife attraction: bees, hoverflies, early-flying pollinators

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 6m x 4m

Position: full sun; needs a warm, sheltered position protected from cold, drying winds; best against a south- or west-facing wall in colder areas

Soil pH: prefers neutral to acid soils; intolerant of chalky or very alkaline conditions

Moisture: moderate watering while establishing; drought tolerant once established; needs well-drained soil and dislikes waterlogging

Winter hardiness: hardy to approximately -8°C to -10°C once established; young plants may need fleece protection in hard frosts, and the plant is best suited to mild or sheltered locations