Acacias are evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs of the legume family. These are tropical and subtropical plants. According to various sources, the rich genus of plants includes more than 600 species growing wild mainly in Australia, Africa, Mexico and Asia. The Latin name is ‘Acacia’.
Acacia is a terry beauty. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Monterey County Wildflowers
Acacia is also called robinia – “white acacia” and caragana – “yellow acacia”, although they belong to completely different genera of the legume family.
In Russia, in everyday speech, the silver acacia (Acacia dealbata) is often called Mimosa. It is common on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, and it is the silver acacia that is a traditional gift for International Women’s Day.
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Botanical description of acacia
Trees or shrubs, sometimes with thorns on the stems. Leaves are twice dissected, consisting of numerous small leaflets or leaf-like formations, usually provided with glands. Flowers are small, numerous, in capitate inflorescences or cylindrical racemes, erect or drooping, yellow or whitish-yellow. The fruit is a bean.
Acacia are one of the fastest growing breeds; in the first year of life, they reach a height of 1 m; on the second – 2 m, on the third – up to 4-5 m; at the age of 12-15 years – 15-18 m. Rapid growth stops by 25-30 years; plants at the age of 30 are already aging.
Acacia Care Tips
Temperature: Moderate, in winter needs a cool but bright room with a temperature of at least 10 ยฐ C. The room should be ventilated, but cold drafts are not allowed.
Lighting: The plant is light-requiring, no shading is needed.
Watering: Abundant from spring to autumn, very mild in winter, especially if kept in a cool place in winter.
fertilizers: Every year in spring and summer, fertilizing is carried out with liquid complex fertilizer for indoor plants.
Air humidity: Does not need spraying.
Transfer: The transplant is carried out after flowering every 2 years. The soil is light turf (2 parts), peat (1 part) and sand (1 part). Acacia roots have a garlic smell, which is felt when transplanted.
Most acacias have a characteristic feature – their leaf blades are reduced, and the petioles are flat and expanded, having the ability to photosynthesize, these are the so-called phyllodia.
Among amateur flower growers, acacia is not widespread, more often it is used to make bouquets.
In summer, acacia trees, after preliminary hardening (by strong ventilation of the premises), are placed on balconies, terraces or in the garden, they are dug into the ground. It is best to plant acacia for the summer in the ground without a pot, protected from the wind, but in a bright place.
Silver acacia in a pot. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com vanmeuwen
Growing acacia
Acacia is well suited for landscaping bright and cool rooms, greenhouses or conservatories. All representatives of the genus Acacia are light-loving plants that tolerate a certain amount of direct rays well. In summer, they prefer temperatures between +20 .. +25 ยฐ C, it is advisable to take the plant outside or on a balcony. It is necessary to provide a cool and sunny winter with a temperature not higher than +8 .. +10 ยฐ C.
In summer, acacia is watered abundantly, in winter it is watered so that the top layer of the substrate dries up between waterings. Acacia tolerates medium or even low air humidity well. Acacia must be fed from spring to late summer. It is not recommended to feed acacia during the non-growing season.
Representatives of the Acacia genus grow very quickly, and under favorable conditions, they give a large increase in the spring-summer season. In order for the plant to have a more lush crown, weak and thickening branches are cut out after flowering.
Plants are transplanted after flowering; since the plant is distinguished by strong growth, it is necessary to select a spacious and deep container. Young plants are transplanted every year, adults can be transplanted after two to three years.
For plants, a mixture of sod-leaf or humus-peat soil and sand (2: 1: 1) is suitable.
Reproduction of acacia
Acacia is propagated by seeds and cuttings.
seed sown in the month of January, before sowing, they must be soaked in water for 24 hours at a temperature of +60 ยฐ C or for 48 hours at a temperature of +40 ยฐ C. Then they are sown in a light substrate (sand + peat, etc.). Seedlings grow rapidly, they dive into the substrate, consisting of sod, leafy soil and sand (1: 1: 0,25).
Apical stem cuttings propagated in spring or late summer, as well as by the shoots left over after pruning. In order for the cuttings to take root better and faster, they are placed in a light substrate (sand, peat, perlite), maintaining a temperature of +20 .. +25 ยฐ C.
Acacia paradoxa (Acacia paradoxa). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Greg
Types of Acacia
Silver acacia (Acacia dealbata) known as mimosa, originally from Australia. This is an evergreen, spreading tree reaching 10 meters (various sources say that it can reach 15-25 meters, and at home – up to 30-45 meters). With smooth bark without thorns. The branches are thin, pubescent, covered with a whitish bloom, as well as double-pinnate leaves. For the ashy shade of its foliage, it got the name “silvery”. Growing fast.
Flowers with a delicate odor – spherical heads 4-8 mm in diameter, collected in complex paniculate inflorescences located at the ends of the shoots of the last year. Acacia flowers are small, each flower contains many stamens with light yellow filaments and bright yellow anthers. The abundance of golden stamens in the flowers makes the inflorescences extremely delicate and fluffy. Flowering occurs in mid-winter – early spring.
The most common species in indoor culture is Acacia is paradoxical (Acacia paradoxa). Synonym: Armed Acacia (Acacia armata). This is a profusely branching compact shrub 1-3 meters high with thin ribbed pubescent branches. Shoots are densely covered with dark green phyllodia (leaf-like flattened leaf petioles) no more than 2,5 cm in size. “(Armata).
Leaves are ovoid, slightly unequal with a blunt or shortly pointed tip, dark or silvery green. Fragrant bright yellow flowers are collected in single capitate inflorescences. Lush bloom, comes in March-April. Thanks to its thin shoots, the acacia can be used as an ampelous plant, i.e. an ornamental plant with hanging or creeping stems.
Acacia whorled (Acacia verticillata). Synonym: Mimosa verticillata (Mimosa verticillata). A small shrub with thin branches. Soft acicular matte green phyllodia are whorled (i.e., in a group). The flowers are light yellow in short (1,5-2,5 cm) spike-shaped inflorescences. Flowering occurs in March-April.
Sapling of Acacia maidenii. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com plantasmagorical
Possible difficulties in growing acacia
Falling buds
The reason may be overdrying of the earthy coma.
Withered leaves
The reason may be overdrying or waterlogging of the earthen coma. Adjust watering. Another reason may be that the substrate is too heavy. Replace the substrate with a more suitable one.
The leaves lose their color, the leaves turn pale
Lack of light may be the reason. Adjust the illumination. If the plant is in shade for a long time, then it is necessary to gradually accustom it to more lighting. In winter, illumination with fluorescent lamps is desirable.
Dry brown leaf tips
The reason may be too dry indoor air or lack of watering.
Dark spots appeared on the leaves
Hypothermia or drafts may be the cause. Disease may be another cause.
In low humidity, it can be damaged by spider mites.
