Acacia retinodes (Retinodes water wattle)

Japanese name: アカシア レティノデス
Scientific name: Acacia retinodes

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub or small tree 4–6 m tall.
The leaves are alternate, narrowly lanceolate phyllodes about 7–12 cm long and 0.6 cm wide, grayish green.
It flowers in all seasons.
At the branch tips it produces inflorescences in which globose flower heads are further gathered into racemes, bearing many golden-yellow flowers.
The flowers are fragrant.
The fruit is a flat legume 6–8 cm long.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or cuttings.
To promote germination, soak freshly collected seeds in 80°C water for 30 minutes, leave them in the water for half a day to 2 days, and then sow.
The optimum germination temperature is 20–25°C, and germination begins about 1–3 weeks after sowing.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained site.
In warm regions south of the Kanto region it can overwinter in the open ground.
It will not flower without enough sun.
Also, strong wind can break branches and trunks, so avoid places exposed to strong wind.
It tolerates light frost.
Once rooted, watering is unnecessary unless the soil becomes extremely dry.
In summer, water in the morning or evening when the temperature is low.
Pruning back hard after flowering can prolong the life of the tree.
Mature plants are difficult to transplant, but if it is unavoidable, do root pruning the year before.
Pests and diseases include scale insects and aphids.

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