Acacia
Acacia Auriculiformis
📖 About this plant
Acacia Auriculiformis (earleaf acacia or ‘Sunajhari‘ in Odia) is a fast-growing evergreen tree widely planted across India for afforestation, avenue planting, and pulpwood.
A nitrogen-fixing legume (family Mimosaceae), it thrives in poor soils and is extensively used in mine-site reclamation, coastal plantations, and as a shade tree in coffee and tea estates.
The tree’s golden-yellow flowers appear in spring and produce curved brown pods. Wood is used for pulp, fuelwood, and small furniture. It is drought-tolerant and salt-tolerant — making it ideal for degraded lands.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun
Drought-tolerant once established; weekly when young
Low to moderate
20-35°C
Well-draining sandy loam; pH 5.0-7.0
Low - fixes nitrogen; apply compost annually
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Australia, Papua New Guinea; widely planted in India
- 📏 Max height
- 15-30 m
- 📐 Spread
- 5-10 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring (golden-yellow spike flowers)
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Golden-yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Evergreen sickle-shaped phyllodes
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 20-30 years
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Mild - seeds contain saponins
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seeds (soak in hot water 24h before sowing)
🛡️ Health & Safety
Common issues
- Root rot in waterlogged soil.
- Psyllid leaf galls.
- Stem borer.
💡 Care tips
- Plant in full sun on well-drained soil.
- Tolerates drought, salinity, and poor soils.
- Avoid planting near buildings - root system is aggressive.