Red stem wattle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Red-stemmed wattle
Red stemmed wattle habit
Scientific classification
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	rubida
Occurrence data from AVH

Acacia rubida flowers

Acacia rubida buds

The Acacia rubida, also known as the red stem wattle, red stemmed wattle, or red leaved wattle, is a type of shrub. It belongs to the Acacia family, which includes many different wattles. This plant is originally from eastern Australia.

What is the Red Stem Wattle?

This wattle can grow as a shrub or a small tree. It usually stands straight up or grows in a bushy shape. It can reach a height of about 2 to 10 meters (about 6 to 33 feet). Its bark is brown and has small cracks.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of the red stem wattle are not typical leaves. They are actually flattened leaf stems called phyllodes. These phyllodes are reddish to grey-green and feel a bit leathery. They can be long and narrow, from 5 to 20 centimeters (about 2 to 8 inches) long and 8 to 25 millimeters (about 0.3 to 1 inch) wide.

When the plant is young, its leaves are pinnate. This means they have many small leaflets arranged like a feather. Sometimes, these feathery leaves stay on older plants too.

The red stem wattle blooms between July and November. It produces groups of pale to bright yellow flowers. These flower groups are round, about 5 to 7 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.3 inches) across. Each group has 9 to 15 tiny flowers.

Seed Pods

After the flowers bloom, flat seed pods start to form. These pods are firm but feel like paper or thin leather. They are usually straight and can be 4 to 12 centimeters (about 1.5 to 5 inches) long and 6 to 9 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. Often, they have a powdery white coating on them.

Where Does the Red Stem Wattle Grow?

You can find the red stem wattle in the southwestern parts of Queensland, western New South Wales, and Victoria. It grows on the tablelands of the Great Dividing Range.

This plant often lives in open woodlands or dry sclerophyll forests. Sclerophyll forests have plants with hard, tough leaves. It likes rocky hilltops and slopes, growing in rocky soils. It can also be found in rich soils along rivers and creeks. Most of these plants are found from the Black Range in northeast Victoria up to near Stanthorpe in south-eastern Queensland.

How to Grow Red Stem Wattle

The red stem wattle is sold in small pots or as seeds. It's a great "pioneer species" because it grows quickly and is very tough. It can handle cold weather well.

This plant is also helpful because it helps with nitrogen fixing. This means it takes nitrogen from the air and puts it into the soil, which helps other plants grow. It can grow in poor, shallow, or rocky soils, even at high altitudes. It helps protect the land where it naturally grows.

The red stem wattle prefers sunny spots and doesn't need much care. It can handle dry periods and even short floods.

Images for kids

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  Illustration by James Sowerby

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  Acacia myrtifolia habit

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  Acacia myrtifolia flowers and foliage