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Acacia auriculiformis

Common Name: earleaf acacia

Family: Fabaceae

Common Synonyms: none

USDA Hardiness Zone: 10A - 11

Growth Habit: Tree

Origin: Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia

FISC Category: 1

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: No

Introduction Date: 1932

IFAS Assessment:

  • North: OK
  • Central: CAUTION
  • South: INVASIVE
Acacia auriculiformis
Robert Gundy
Acacia auriculiformis
Robert Gundy

Description

Evergreen tree to 15 m tall, often multi-stemmed. Alternate, simple, leaves, slightly curved, 11-20 cm long with 3-7 parallel veins, surfaces dark green. Flowers mimosa-like, yellow-orange in spikes at leaf axils. Flowers spring through fall. Fruit a flat oblong twisted pod with black seeds attached by orange arils.

Habitat

Able to colonize a wide variety of habitats - flatwoods, scrub, tidal marshes, coastal uplands, pine rocklands, swamps, disturbed sites

Comments

Vouchered in most south zone counties, possible EDRR candidate in central zone if not well established. Adapted to wet or dry conditions. Seeds dispersed by birds.

Map of species distribution

Control Methods

  • Manual: NA
  • Chemical: Basal bark (10% triclopyr ester), cut stump (50% triclopyr amine). Increase consistency with addition of 3% imazapyr. Avoid imazapyr addition when other non-target trees are in close proximity, and minimize runoff when imazapyr is added. [IFAS]
  • Biological: NA

Control Notes

NA

References

Gilman, E.F. and D.G. Watson. 2013. Acacia auriculiformis: Earleaf Acacia. IFAS Publication ENH-163. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

IFAS, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. 2013. Earleaf acacia. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/16. Accessed on December 2, 2013.

Langeland, K.A., H.M. Cherry, C.M. McCormick, K.C. Burks. 2008. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas-Second Edition. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville.

Langeland, K.A., J.A. Ferrell, B. Sellers, G.E. MacDonald, and R.K. Stocker. 2011. Integrated management of non-native plants in natural areas of Florida. EDIS publication SP 242. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

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