Description

General aspect and origins - Acacia melanoxylon is also known as blackwood wattle. This Acacia species is native to Tasmania and Eastern Australia. It is a fast grower and has a rather erect aspect, which explains why it is often used as a street tree.
Leaves - This Acacia has both evergreen leaves and phyllodes : the leaves are bipinnate with tiny elliptic leaflets and the phyllodes are green-grey and up to 3-4 in (7.5-10 cm) long.
Flowers - Flowers are yellow-cream, scented, globular and about .5 in (1.25 cm) in diameter. They are grouped in axillary clusters that are about 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long. They appear from early to late spring.
Fruits - The fruit is an inedible seedpod which turns brown when ripe.

Culture

This species is fairly frost-hardy, and is known to withstand low temperatures down to about 18-21°F (about -6°C to -8°C) and mature trees may survive even slightly lower temperatures.

Additionally, this wattle dense wood is often used for furniture in Australia.
Soil - This tree needs a light, slightly acidic to neutral, moist and well-drained soil. It is not very drought-hardy, but can grow in slightly alcaline soils.

Propagation

This wattle can be propagated by seeds (in spring with some bottom heat), cuttings (in summer with semi-ripe wood), air-layers (mid to late winter) or can be grafted (from late-spring to mid-summer).