Acacia baileyana
Cootamundra wattle, Cootamundra Wattle
(c) Doug Miller, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Acacia baileyana (Cootamundra wattle) is a non-native California shrub / tree in the Fabaceae family, recognized by silver-blue coloration and small 2-pinnate leaflets.
Cootamundra wattle is a naturalized shrub found in coastal California regions including the Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California, and Santa Ynez Mountains at elevations below 300 meters in disturbed areas and roadsides. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces bright yellow flowers in racemes with up to 35 heads. Growing as a small tree or shrub up to 10 meters tall, it features distinctively silver-blue angled twigs with a soft, spreading habit. Its two-pinnate leaves are silver-blue with 2 to 5 pairs of primary leaflets and 8 to 24 pairs of narrow secondary leaflets, creating a delicate, feathery appearance. The fruit is a leathery, dark brown pod 3 to 15 centimeters long, initially covered in a silvery-blue surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; key features are silver-blue coloration and small 2-pinnate leaflets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Roadsides, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 300 m
Outside California: native to southeastern Australia
Bloom period
Acacia baileyana blooms Feb-Apr.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Salix: Acacia has yellow ball-shaped flowers; Salix has catkins with small individual flowers and visible scales.; vs Paraserianthes: Acacia has simple blade-like leaves; Paraserianthes has twice-compound feathery leaves.; vs Eucalyptus: Acacia has yellow ball flowers; Eucalyptus has white to cream flowers with prominent stamens from a cap.; vs Vachellia: Acacia has simple blade-like leaves and no spines; Vachellia has feathery leaves and paired spines.; vs Quercus: Acacia has yellow fuzzy ball flowers; Quercus has separate male catkins and tiny female flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Acacia baileyana native to California?
No. Acacia baileyana is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Acacia baileyana bloom?
Acacia baileyana blooms Feb-Apr.
What plant family does Acacia baileyana belong to?
Acacia baileyana is in the Fabaceae family, genus Acacia.
Is Acacia baileyana invasive in California?
Acacia baileyana is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Acacia baileyana grow in?
Acacia baileyana grows in Uncommon. Roadsides, disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.