Creek wattle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Silver wattle
Illustration from the Transactions and proceedings and report of the Philosophical Society of Adelaide in 1918
Scientific classification
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	rivalis
Occurrence data from AVH

Acacia rivalis, commonly known as silver wattle or creek wattle, is a type of shrub or small tree. It belongs to the large Acacia family. This plant is native to southern Australia.

What Does the Silver Wattle Look Like?

The silver wattle is usually a shrub or a small tree. It often grows to be about 3 to 5 meters (10 to 16 feet) tall. It has a rounded, bushy top.

Its leaves are long and narrow, shaped like a spear. They can be up to 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) long and 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) wide. These leaves are smooth and shiny, with a clear vein down the middle.

The plant blooms between May and November. It produces small, round, yellow flowers. These flowers grow on simple stalks from the leaf joints.

After the flowers, smooth, brown seed pods appear. These pods can be straight or slightly curved. They grow up to 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) long and 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) wide. Inside the pods, you'll find hard, black seeds. The seeds are oval-shaped, about 7 millimeters (0.3 inches) long and 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) wide.

Where Does the Silver Wattle Grow?

The silver wattle is a plant that grows only in certain places. It is found in small areas of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. You can see it near Hawker in the south, and further north around Mount Harris.

It also grows much further west, near Wilgena. This plant likes to grow on ridges, stony slopes, and along watercourses. It prefers shallow, chalky, loamy soils. You'll often find it as part of tall, open scrubland areas.