Vachellia farnesiana var. minuta

Sweet acacia

Family: Fabaceae · Type: shrub · Not Native

Sweet acacia is a naturalized shrub found in San Diego County and expected in the Peninsular Ranges in disturbed areas, chaparral, dry scrub, forest, and washes at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from November to April, this plant produces pale yellow to cream-colored flowers in small, fuzzy globular clusters. Growing with multiple stems 1 to 3 meters tall, it forms a dense, somewhat irregular shape with slender branches. Its delicate leaves are compound, with tiny leaflets arranged along fine stems, typically 15 to 30 millimeters long and densely covered in soft, fine hairs. The shrub is known for its sweet-scented flowers and ability to thrive in dry, challenging environments.

Habitat: Disturbed areas, chaparral, dry scrub, forest, washes

Bloom period: Nov-Apr

Elevation: < 300 m

Bioregions: SCo (San Diego Co.), expected PR

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.