Acacia pycnantha
Golden wattle
(c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Acacia pycnantha (Golden wattle) is a non-native California shrub / tree in the Fabaceae family, recognized by sickle-shaped leaves and abundant golden flowers distinguish it.
Golden wattle is a naturalized shrub found in the central coast, southern coast, and southern Channel Islands in disturbed areas at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering in February, this plant produces bright golden yellow flowers in racemes occasionally forming panicles with 10 to 30 heads. Growing as a small shrub or tree up to 8 meters tall with unarmed twigs, it has a smooth, glabrous stem structure. Its leaves are simple, sickle-shaped, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, measuring 9 to 15 centimeters long with a prominent midvein. The fruit is a dark brown, leathery pod 5 to 13 centimeters long, typically straight and 5 to 7 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; sickle-shaped leaves and abundant golden flowers distinguish it
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: native to southeastern Australia
Bloom period
Acacia pycnantha blooms Feb.
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 pycnantha native to California?
No. Acacia pycnantha is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Acacia pycnantha bloom?
Acacia pycnantha blooms Feb.
What plant family does Acacia pycnantha belong to?
Acacia pycnantha is in the Fabaceae family, genus Acacia.
Is Acacia pycnantha invasive in California?
Acacia pycnantha is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Acacia pycnantha grow in?
Acacia pycnantha grows in Uncommon. 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.