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A tree growing to 20 m tall, erect or spreading, with deeply fissured bark.
It grows along the entire coast of NSW and into the central and northern tablelands and central western slopes. It extends into Victoria and Queensland, growing as far north, along the coast, to Townsville. There is only one cluster of records in Victoria at Orbost where it is critically endangered.
It grows primarily in areas near the coast in higher rainfall areas on the margins of rainforest and in wet sclerophyll forest as well as some drier areas.
Australian Wattles at least, can be broadly placed into 1 of 3 recognisable groups:
Phyllodes and bipinnate leaves are always alternate to clustered, never opposite.
This wattle belongs to Group 2.
The phyllodes (modified leaves) are dark green, alternate along the stem and reach 20 cm in length and to 3 cm wide, mid-green to dark green in colour.
Acacia spp. produce small 5-merous flowers, with 5 very small petals partly-fused into a short tube which sits above a fused calyx. The stamens are the main feature which are produced in high numbers per flower (staminate flowers), surrounding a single style. In this species, flowers are produced in spikes up to 6 cm long, pale yellow, that often occur singularly in axils of phyllodes or clusters of two to three.
Seed pods are twisted or coiled 1 or more times, to 15 cm long and 0.5 cm wide.
It makes an attractive ornamental tree along streets and in parks. It is very good for reforestation in suitable areas.
Prefers full sum to partial shade with an ample supply of water.
Acacias can suffer from a number of pests, including borers, scale, galls and leaf miners. Growing plants suitable to your local environment minimises these occurring.
Propagation is easy from scarified seed by covering with boiling water for 24 hours and discarding any seeds still floating on the surface.
It has been introduced into India, (Tamil Nadu) and Argentina, and it grows on plantations in South Africa.
It is very fast growing, reaching 1.5 m tall in as little as five months.
The exudates from the trunk (like gum or pitch) have been used in the past for food by First Nations People of Australia.
Most wattles regenerate from seed after fire with some species exhibiting suckering from bases of trunks.
Acacia is a highly diverse genus, with over 1500 recognised species (placing it in the top-10 most-diverse plant genera) occurring in most continents except for Europe. Australia has about 970 spp., most of which are endemic. There are also about 10 exotic species. NSW has about 235 recognised species. Some species have become weeds in other states outside of their natural range (e.g., wattles from Western Australia into NSW and vice versa).
Acacia – from Greek Akakia – which refers to an Ancient Greek preparation made from one of the many species; the name of which derives from akis, meaning “thorn” – referring to the thorns of species in Africa.
maidenii – named after Joseph Henry Maiden (b.1859 – d.1925), appointed Government Botanist and Director of the Botanic Gardens in Sydney in 1896, retiring in 1924. He was instrumental in establishing the formal herbarium, with a purpose-built building, a botanical museum and lecture room, and established a network of collectors and correspondents.
This species is not considered to be at risk of extinction in the wild in NSW. It is threatened with extinction in Victoria where is it listed as critically endangered.
Wikipedia – Acacia maidenii profile page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_maidenii
NSW Flora Online (PlantNET) – Acacia maidenii profile page http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Acacia~maidenii
Wrigley, J.W. & Fagg, M.I. (2001). Australian Native Plants – Propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping. 4th edition. New Holland Publishers, Pty. Ltd. Australia.