Acacia paradoxa (Kangaroo Thorn)

Kangaroo Thorn, Acacia paradoxa. Starlight Reserve, Rowville Victoria

Photograph by John Tann. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Acacia paradoxa (Hedge Wattle) Shrub or small spreading tree

Photograph by DavidFrancis34 from Australia. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Acacia paradoxa in Hahei, Waikato (New Zealand)

Photograph by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Growth Characteristics information is sourced from: State Flora Catalog, Government of South Australia Licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license.

KANGAROO THORN FACTS

distribution map showing range of Acacia paradoxa in Australia

Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License

Common Name
Kangaroo Thorn

Other Names
Kangaroo Acacia, Prickly Wattle, Hedge Wattle, Paradox Acacia

Description
Kangaroo Thorn is a large shrub or tree growing to 2 m to 4 m tall. The phyllodes are lance shaped and about 2 cm long and up to 7 mm wide. It also produces sharp spines up to 15 mm long from the phyllode axils. It usually flowers in spring between August and November, producing clusters of bright yellow flowers. The flower heads are spherical and about 12 mm in diameter. The seed pods are brown and grow 4 cm to 7 cm long. The black seeds are oblong and about 6 mm long.

Habitat
woodland, open forest.

Distribution
Kangaroo Thorn is found in south east South Australia, Victoria, eastern New South Wales and south east Queensland. It has become naturalised in south west Western Australia and Tasmania. It has also been introduced to other continents.

Growth Characteristics
Height (m): 2 - 4
Spread (m): 3 - 4
Soil Texture: sand, loam, clay, limestone
Soil pH: acid soils, neutral soils, alkaliine soils
Frost Sensitivity: moderately sensitive
Minimum Rainfall (mm): 300
Flower Colour: yellow
Flower Season: spring

(source: SA State Flora Catalog)

Propagation
scarified seed

Wildlife Interest
attracts seed-eating birds

Classification

Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Mimosaceae
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	paradoxa
Common Name:	Kangaroo Thorn

Relatives in same Genus
  Acacia acanthoclada
  Acacia acinacea
  Acacia acradenia
  Acacia aculeatissima
  Acacia alata
  Acacia amblygona
  Acacia amoena
  Acacia aneura
  Acacia aulacocarpa
  Acacia auriculiformis
  Acacia baileyana
  Acacia beckleri
  Acacia boormanii
  Acacia brachybotrya
  Acacia brachystachya
  Acacia buxifolia
  Acacia caesiella
  Acacia calamifolia
  Acacia cardiophylla
  Acacia chrysocephala
  Acacia cognata
  see A-Z list for more ...