Good for revegetation sites
Fast growing, profusely flowering wattle native to South-East Queensland and Northern NSW. After a public vote in 2023 Acacia fimbriata Brisbane Wattle was selected as Brisbane’s floral emblem (in addition to low-risk weed Red Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima). Brisbane Wattle is a good screen plant, gap filler. Hardy in most situations. Usually a bushy shrub or small tree to 4-6 metres high with attractive, weeping light green foliage. New growth is paler, sometimes reddish. In a revegetation site, Brisbane Wattle grows fast and responds well to being trimmed of lower branches, which concentrates growth in the canopy and makes it easier to prevent exotic, suffocating vines from taking hold. Acacia fimbriata is also known as Fringed Wattle because of the microscopic hairs along the phyllodes. Yellow perfumed ball-shaped flowers appear in profusion in late winter and spring. Flowers numerous; sepals about three quarters united, often partially separating with age. Tolerates damp conditions, common in moist sites (good riparian species) and also in open eucalypt communities. Has been listed as a fire retardant species. Seed pods are brown, flattish and 8 mm by 100 mm. Roasted seed tastes like a combination of hazelnut, chocolate and coffee according to Gardening Australia’s Colin Campbell. Food source for Australian King Parrot and Crimson Rosella (seeds) and caterpillars of Imperial Hairstreak Butterfly Jalmenus evagoras evagoras (leaves). Medium pollen source for bees.
Trim lower branches to promote growth. Photo: Robert Whyte
Flowers profusely. Photo: Robert Whyte
Seed pods are edible according to Gardening Australia. Photo: Robert Whyte
Seed collecting and propagation
Seed pods are brown, flattish and 8 mm by 100 mm. Remove seed from pods. Drop seed in boiling water for 30 seconds before refreshing in iced water. Germination starts in about 4 days if grown at 25°C. Fresh seed is 80-90% viable.
References and resources
World Wide Wattle
Create More Butterflies by Frank Jordan and Helen Schwencke – This book contains over 250 full colour photos of butterfly lifecyles and caterpillar food plants for 48 different species of butterflies that occur in South-East Queensland and northern New South Wales.
