Acacia longifolia
Sydney golden wattle
Family: Fabaceae
Origin: Australia
Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) status
- Whole region — Sustained control
- Hauraki Gulf Controlled Area Notice pest
General description
Shrub or small tree < 10 m tall. Leaves are reduced to phyllodes, < 13 x 2.2 mm, narrow and elliptic, with two prominent veins.
Flowers are pale yellow and borne in cylindrical spikes in July – August. Seed pods are < 120 x 4 mm.
What you need to know
To help protect our environment, from 1 September 2021, you:
- will not be allowed to breed, distribute, release or sell Sydney golden wattle within the Auckland region.
- will not be allowed to plant Sydney golden wattle within the Auckland region, unless you are transferring an existing plant on your land to another location within the boundaries of the same property.
- must destroy any Sydney golden wattle on land that you occupy if it has been planted in breach of the above rules and you are directed to do so by an authorised person.
Habitats
Open habitats, disturbed habitats, coastal dunes, riparian areas, dry banks, roadsides, scrub, open forest, wasteland, wetland.
Dispersal
Seeds dispersed by wind, gravity and water.
Impact on environment
Forms dense stands, out-competing native vegetation. Nitrogen fixer. Can alter soil organic matter content, soil microbial communities, soil moisture and nutrient cycling. May facilitate invasion by exotic plant species.
Control
Site Management
Follow up treated areas 3 times per year. Crown lift to allow understory plants to establish or to underplant prior to controlling large trees.
Recommended approaches
Physical control
Method: Dig out.
Plant parts requiring disposal: Seeds.
Disposal options: Trees can be chipped and used as mulch, preferably when not in seed.
Biocontrol
Biocontrol is currently not available for this species.
Community agrichemical control recommendations
No qualifications: Cut stump and paste freshly cut base of stems with double strength glyphosate gel.
Ringbark and paste cut with double strength glyphosate gel.
Basic Growsafe certified: Foliar spray seedlings with 200ml glyphosate green per 10L of water.
Ringbark and spray cut with 750ml glyphosate green per 1 L of water.
Certified Handler/Experienced agrichemical user: Drill and inject trees with 750ml glyphosate green and 10ml penetrant per 1L of water, if safe to do so. Drill 18mm holes (tangentially angled downwards) in a spiral up the trunk.
For 50mm stems drill one hole. For 100mm stems drill two holes. For larger stems drill holes 150mm apart. Foliar spray seedlings with 200ml glyphosate green per 10L of water and 20ml penetrant.
Safety notes
Large trees must not be drilled that are closer than 1.5 times the height of the tree from paths, walkways and property.
Trees over 4 metres in height should be removed by a qualified arborist.
Caution: When using any herbicide or pesticide please read the label thoroughly to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
