
Family: Fabaceae/Mimosaceae
Growth Habit: Cootamundra Wattle has fine silvery-grey to blue-green ‘feathery’, bipinnate foliage crowded on the stem. Branchlets have a waxy coating.
Type of plant: Large shrub to small tree up to 10 m high and 6 m across.

Flowers: Lots of golden-yellow soft ball-shaped flowers in late winter, early spring.
Fruit/Seeds: Seed pods are flatish, bluish when young turning brown or black when mature.
Dispersal: Seeds are carried by ants, small mammals and humans. Seeds last a very long time in the soil and have a high rate of germination especially after fire or soil disturbance.
Distribution: Native to south west NSW, highly invasive outside its natural region.
Status: Undeclared in Tasmania, but has become a serious environmental weed in Tasmania and other states.
Weed Impact:
- Environmental weed.
- “Genetic pollution” by hybridising with other locally native species such as the endangered Downy Wattle (Acacia pubescens), putting it at further risk of extinction..
- Out competes native Acacia species, reducing local natural diversity.
- Can form dense stands.
Control Methods:
- Do not plant in gardens, reserves or properties.
- Replace with other locally native species.
- Treat before they seed. Bag and remove any seed pods present.
- Hand pull seedlings and small plants.
- Cut stump larger seedlings and plants.
- Drill and fill larger plants.
N.B. Always check the herbicide label before use.