Is anybody successfully growing Acacia Dealbata?

Discussion in 'Tropical Gardening' started by Black Orchid, Aug 22, 2020.

  1. Black Orchid

    Black Orchid Gardener

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2016
    Messages:
    277
    Gender:
    Female
    Ratings:
    +583
    Hello, I just wonder if anybody is successfully growing Acacia Dealbata in a pot in their garden, especially in the NW of England? Mine is already about 2.5m tall and it has never flowered. I can't see any buds this season either. I would be greatful for your recommendations.
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2005
    Messages:
    47,724
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Mid Kent
    Ratings:
    +84,388
    Not one I have but I think as usual with borderline hardy, or even half hardy plants it depends on the one thing we can't control, the weather.

    I tried one of these years ago and it didn't survive the first winter, but I have seen ones locally that are over 20 feet high.
    Probably I should have tried again .
    Finding a microclimate in your garden is often the secret to success with marginally hardy plants.

    It would be much better planted out rather than kept in a pot.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
      Last edited: Aug 24, 2020
    • noisette47

      noisette47 Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jan 25, 2013
      Messages:
      5,864
      Gender:
      Female
      Location:
      Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine
      Ratings:
      +13,965
      Two problems with A. dealbata.....it flowers naturally in January, so the buds and flowers are at risk from frost even if it's growing well in a sheltered spot. The other problem is it's root system. The ideal place to grow one would be against a sunny house wall, but it's got horrifically invasive roots, so not ideal for the foundations/drains.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Agree Agree x 1
      • Black Orchid

        Black Orchid Gardener

        Joined:
        Aug 28, 2016
        Messages:
        277
        Gender:
        Female
        Ratings:
        +583
        Thank you. I know that it is much better for most of the plants to be planted in the soil but unfortunately my garden is rather small and more than half is covered with tiles. So I have no alternative but to grow a lot of plants in big pots.
         
        • Informative Informative x 1
        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

          Joined:
          Jan 9, 2005
          Messages:
          47,724
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired
          Location:
          Mid Kent
          Ratings:
          +84,388
          Which is why I have to slightly less attractive Acacia pravissima, it's much hardier. :smile:
           
        • Black Orchid

          Black Orchid Gardener

          Joined:
          Aug 28, 2016
          Messages:
          277
          Gender:
          Female
          Ratings:
          +583
          Hi, I am growing it in a large pot and cover it with fleece for cold times.
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • Black Orchid

            Black Orchid Gardener

            Joined:
            Aug 28, 2016
            Messages:
            277
            Gender:
            Female
            Ratings:
            +583
            Thank you, Pete. I also have a different Acacia (I don't remember its IMG_20200408_185940.jpg
            exact name) which is hardy and it flowers about 2 months but it has no smell.
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • CarolineL

              CarolineL Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Jun 12, 2016
              Messages:
              1,597
              Gender:
              Female
              Occupation:
              Retired Software engineer
              Location:
              Rural Carmarthenshire
              Ratings:
              +4,304
              Nice acacia @Black Orchid ! A neighbour of mine grew A. dealbata in the ground in Nottinghamshire and it flowered wonderfully - but they cut it down because it was getting too big :rolleyespink:. I had one that I started from seed and it never flowered, even though it was in the border. I suspect there are some free flowering clones around in the trade - I've seen one labelled 'Gaulois'. I had the best flowering with A. costiniana from seed - it flowered at various times of the year.
               
              • Like Like x 2
              • strongylodon

                strongylodon Old Member

                Joined:
                Feb 12, 2006
                Messages:
                14,755
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Wareham, Dorset
                Ratings:
                +28,243
                Looks like pravissima @Black Orchid. Mine is in the ground, hit badly a few years ago but now is growing rapidly and flowers each year providing it is a mild winter, even down here they can suffer severe frosting.
                As it is a fast growing tree it will soon become top heavy in a pot unless trimmed and if done at the wrong time, no flowers.
                Acacia pravissima is the only hardy one that I know of. I have lost longifolia, baileyana and baileyana purpurea in the past.
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • Informative Informative x 1
                • pete

                  pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                  Joined:
                  Jan 9, 2005
                  Messages:
                  47,724
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Occupation:
                  Retired
                  Location:
                  Mid Kent
                  Ratings:
                  +84,388
                  A.Pravissima does have a scent when in flower, especially when the sun shines on it.
                  I'm looking at that picture @Black Orchid and I'm not convinced it pravissima, do you have a close up picture?
                   
                  • Informative Informative x 1
                  • CarolineL

                    CarolineL Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Jun 12, 2016
                    Messages:
                    1,597
                    Gender:
                    Female
                    Occupation:
                    Retired Software engineer
                    Location:
                    Rural Carmarthenshire
                    Ratings:
                    +4,304
                    A. pataczekii is supposed to be very hardy - I lost it in the -10 to -15 we had some years ago. Costiniana seemed pretty good but it was in the soil, and in the middle of other plants sheltering it. It had perfume, but pataczekii was a fairly miserable flowerer.
                     
                    • Informative Informative x 1
                    • Friendly Friendly x 1
                    • pete

                      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                      Joined:
                      Jan 9, 2005
                      Messages:
                      47,724
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Occupation:
                      Retired
                      Location:
                      Mid Kent
                      Ratings:
                      +84,388
                      • Informative Informative x 1
                      • Black Orchid

                        Black Orchid Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Aug 28, 2016
                        Messages:
                        277
                        Gender:
                        Female
                        Ratings:
                        +583
                        Hi Pete,
                        Just made several pictures of my Acacias. And I also added several spring pictures. 20190228_131547-1.jpg 20190228_131533.jpg IMG_20190405_182407.jpg IMG_20200325_172541.jpg IMG_20200823_182335.jpg IMG_20200823_182131.jpg IMG_20200823_182238.jpg IMG_20200823_182404.jpg .
                         
                        • Like Like x 1
                        • pete

                          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                          Joined:
                          Jan 9, 2005
                          Messages:
                          47,724
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Occupation:
                          Retired
                          Location:
                          Mid Kent
                          Ratings:
                          +84,388
                          Not pravissima, but I'd not like to guess which one it is.
                          Interesting, how cold does it get in winter in your area?
                           
                        • Black Orchid

                          Black Orchid Gardener

                          Joined:
                          Aug 28, 2016
                          Messages:
                          277
                          Gender:
                          Female
                          Ratings:
                          +583
                          Thank you, Pete. I think you are right. It is Acacia Boormanii or Silver River Wattle.
                           
                          • Like Like x 1
                          Loading...

                          Share This Page

                          1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                            By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                            Dismiss Notice