Yes Robert, wattle is our national flower. There are many kinds. Some are adapted to mild coastal climes others to the true deserts here. Some have silver grey leaves. Leaves are many shapes, from the usual leaf to fringed ones. Some wattles have nasty spikes. When a lot flower in suburbia many people get hay fever from the pollen. But they smell pretty nice I think. Some flowers are little spherical fluffy balls while others are cylindrical like a tiny bottlebrush. Many become weeds as they spread by seed and suckers.
The ones I have here can grow over 30 feet tall with big trunks more than 2 feet in diameter. Then they can rot and fall over. The bark and wood is very hard to saw. But if kept low the pruned leaves and twigs are great mulch as they improve soil being a nitrogen fixing plant. Growing things near them is good if you can find space between the roots.
Currumbin Valley Queensland
Australia
