The flax wattle, or Acacia linifolia, is another wattle species that is local species. Again, it is a plant that I love seeing on my walks through Lane Cove National Park (just like many others). It’s a common species in both heaths and woodland, along with being particularly common on disturbed ground and along roadsides in the Sydney area. The binomial name, Acacia linifolia, has the following meanings:
- Acacia-from the Greek word ‘acis’ which means ‘a thorn’, referring to the original type species for the Acacia genus which is Acacia nilotica.
- Linifolia-comes from the Latin name for flax, which is Linum and the Latin word for foliage, which is folium, which is due to this wattle’s narrow leaves.
Flax wattles can reach up to four metres in height and has arching branches that gracefully sway in the breeze. Due to its native habitat being woodland or heath, it prefers some shade through the day, but can cope well with full sun. Soil needs to be moist and well drained-the flax wattle cannot tolerate dry soil. In range, it extends from the Hunter Valley in the north to the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.
The phyllodes (flattened stems that act as though they are leaves) are narrow to five centimetres long. The flax wattle is evergreen. They branches do have a weeping habit, which makes the tree more attractive, especially when in flower.
As with all wattles, the flowers are the star of the show. In this case, the flowers appear in a raceme shape a little like a pyramid, frequently at the end of branches. Individual flowers are globular and yellow-cream in colour, with up to twelve flowers per flower head. Some sources say that they only flower in the summer, while others say there is a second flower season in winter. Personally, I have only seen it flower in winter, but I may not have been passing when they have been flowering in the summer! the flowers attract birds, butterflies and bees. The flowers do have the rather sweet smell that many wattle flowers have.
To propagate this lovely tree, use seed. The seed needs soaking in boiling water before sowing to aid germination.
While they are great in the bush around Sydney, the flax wattle is also great in gardens. As well as attracting wildlife, including as a nesting and food tree, the flax wattle is useful as an erosion control tree.
I would have this tree in my garden. If I had my way, I’d have a whole grove of wattle trees. It would have to be a big garden!
https://resources.austplants.com.au/plant/acacia-linifolia/
https://gardeningwithangus.com.au/acacia-linifolia-flax-wattle/
https://hillstohawkesbury.com.au/acacia-linifolia-flower-scent/
Robinson, L., 2003, Third Edition, Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, Simon & Schuster, Sydney
Fairley, A., & Moore, P., Third Edition, Native Plant of the Sydney Region, Allan & Unwin, Sydney