Australia's floral emblem, the inspiration for our national sporting colours and a brightly coloured beacon in the bush, wattle (genus Acacia) is as Australian as a Bunnings sausage sizzle.
Our country is home to more than 1,000 species of wattle, making it our largest plant genus. Wattles play an important role in stabilising soils, enriching nitrogen, and providing habitat and food for countless insects, birds, and mammals.
A hardy plant, it's one of the species that can survive Australia's bushfire season. A symbol of resilience, the tough coats of their seed pods mean that even if the entire parent tree has been burnt, they're still able to grow and survive.
Behind its vibrant bloom, however, lies a story of balance: of native wattles as vital cornerstones of biodiversity, of pest species that disrupt ecosystems, and of First Nations knowledge that offers wisdom for sustainable care.
Are wattles weeds?
Not all wattles are welcome everywhere. While over 1,000 species of Acacia are native to Australia, some have spread beyond their natural ranges and become environmental weeds.
For example, the Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia baileyana), is prized in gardens for its silver foliage and golden blooms. But outside of its home in NSW, it has invaded bushland – disrupting local species and hybridising with related wattles.
The Green Wattle (Acacia decurrens), which was once promoted for tannin production and revegetation, is now regarded as a bushland weed in Victoria and Tasmania due to its aggressive spread.
The issue isn't just localised to Australia either. Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) is treasured in parts of its native habitat for stabilising soil and providing tannins, but in South Africa it's been a declared invasive species for its part in crowding waterways, reducing grassland cover and threatening native biodiversity.
Like plant species, wattles offer important ecological benefits when growing in their home ranges. But when they spread outside their natural habitat, they can become disruptive to local ecosystems. To avoid becoming an accidental environmental vandal, it's important to consider species that support, rather than harm, our local biodiversity. An easy way to do this is to choose sustainably sourced, local native seeds and plants that are free from signs of disease or pests.
