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Sweet Acacia

Vachellia farnesiana

true

5 gallon

Sweet Acacia

In stock

15-20’x15-20’

Sizes:

Sweet Acacia — Vachellia farnesiana

Also known as: Huisache, Cassie, Mimosa Bush
Synonym: Formerly Acacia farnesiana

Prized for its highly fragrant golden-yellow flowers, Sweet Acacia is a 15- to 20-foot-tall tree or large shrub with a graceful, spreading, vase-like form. It typically grows with multiple trunks and is armed with sharp thorns, making it useful as a natural barrier in wildlife-friendly gardens. Its soft, feathery green leaves give it a delicate appearance, especially when paired with the bright puffball-like flowers that bloom from late fall through early spring.

These golden blooms are intensely fragrant and attract both pollinators and people. After flowering, the tree produces reddish-brown, woody seed pods that remain through summer. The common name “Huisache” comes from the Nahuatl word meaning “many thorns”, a reference to its spiny branches.

Native to southern California, southern Arizona, Texas, Florida, and stretching through Mexico, Central America, and South America, Sweet Acacia is also cultivated in southern Europe for its perfume-quality flowers. As a member of the pea family, it improves soil health by partnering with beneficial bacteria to fix nitrogen.

This species is adaptable to many soil types, including clay and alkaline soils, and once established, it is extremely drought tolerant. Occasional deep watering in low desert landscapes encourages more flowering.

In addition to supporting native bees, butterflies, and seed-eating birds, Sweet Acacia is one of the trees used as a roosting site for monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) here on the property.

Wildlife Value

Host Plant: Reakirt’s Blue (Echinargus isola)
Nectar Source: Monarch (Danaus plexippus); Reakirt’s Blue (Echinargus isola); native bees including Perdita, Anthophora, and Bombus species
Bird Resources: Insects; Shelter; Nest Sites
Bird Species: Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps); Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata); Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria); Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Plant Care

Native region:

Sonoran Desert

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun; Reflected Heat

Mature size:

15-20’x15-20’

Growth rate:

Slow

Flower color:

Golden Yellow

Flower season:

Late Fall - Spring

Pruning:

To shape and thin

Cold Hardiness:

30 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Yes

Larval host:

Yes

Bees:

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Yes

Nest materials:

Rabbit-resistant:

Yes

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.