Wattle Day - Celebrate 1 September

Wattles, or Acacias, are a charismatic icon of Australia’s flora. With over 1000 species, they are the most diverse genus of plants on the continent and are a dominant component of the understory of Eucalyptus forests, when it isn’t the major component of our forests of its own right (across 8% of the continent).

Acacia acinacea (Gold-dust Wattle)


Wattle Day has been celebrated across Australia as far back as 1910, and was officially designated as September 1st in 1992. Unlike other Australian holidays such as Anzac Day and Australia Day, which focus on Australia’s past, Wattle Day’s connection to spring and renewal after fire encourages us all to look forward to a brighter future.

You can celebrate Wattle Day by planting one in your garden; their staggering diversity means that there is a suitable plant available for almost any situation. Some of our favourites here at ASQ include:

  • Acacia implexa, Lightwood, is a small upright tree 4-10 metres and is an excellent shade tree for small to medium gardens. Fast growing and like all wattles, the are nitrogen fixing.  Acacia implexa, Lightwood is great for helping a new garden establish and improving the soil for future planting.
  • Acacia acinacea, Gold-dust wattle, a medium sized shrub usually growing less than two metres. The small leaves are small enough that they are hidden completely when the plant is in bloom so that it becomes a golden cloud of flowers.

Queensland Silver Wattle (Acacia podalyriifolia)

  • Acacia podalyriifolia, Queensland Silver Wattle (pictured above), a large shrub or sometimes a small tree that is a good alternative to the weedy Cootamundra wattle (Acacia baileyana). Attractive enough just for its bright silver foliage, it also puts on a show of flowers deep in winter, much earlier than other wattles.
  • For more formal gardens, varieties of Acacia cognata such as “Waterfall (pictured below as a grafted standard)”, “Mini Cog” and “Limelight” are useful for low borders or hedging solutions, or even as a centrepiece with a grafted standard. With a soft texture and dense weeping foliage, these varieties defy expectations of those sceptical of native gardens. 

Acacia Cognata, Waterfall (Grafted Standard)