sweet acacia
Vachellia farnesiana
USDA zones9 to 11
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size15 to 20 feet tall15 to 20 feet wide
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, winter
- Bloom color
- Orange , yellow
- Foliage color
- Green to gray-green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Sweet acacia (Vachellia farnesiana) is a tree for hedges, xeriscape, and low maintenance gardens. It grows outdoors year-round in USDA zone 9 and warmer, down to about 20°F (-7°C). In colder areas, grow it as a houseplant or bring it indoors for winter. This plant likes full or part sun and dry to moist, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. Deer usually look elsewhere for a meal. Fragrant orange-yellow flowers attract bees and butterflies, but sharp thorns cover the branches, so wear gloves when you plant it.
Pairs well with Texas mountain laurel, Pomegranate, and Prairie dropseed.
Native range
AL, AZ, CA, FL, and 5 more places. See all 9
AL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, LA, MS, NM, and TX.