Acacia pravissima Lemon Twist ® - Ovens wattle

The Acacia pravissima 'Lemon Twist' is a mimosa tree that combines high ornamental value with low cultural requirements. It is a fast-growing small tree with a graceful weeping habit, triangular evergreen foliage, and abundant light lemon-yellow flowering in late winter. It can withstand temperatures as low as -8°C in a sheltered position and well-drained soil. This variety thrives in any well-drained soil, tolerates summer drought once established, and adapts well to container gardening.

Mimosas should not be confused with the tree we call acacia, which belongs to the Robinia genus. They belong to the Fabaceae family, just like alfalfa and lupins. The Acacia pravissima (synonym Racosperma pravissimum) is a botanical species native to Australia, specifically New South Wales and Victoria. 'Lemon Twist' is a horticultural selection with a slightly smaller growth habit.

This 'Lemon Twist' mimosa exhibits rapid growth and a gracefully weeping habit, characterised by long angular and wrinkled branches that cascade and vary in colour from green to purple. It reaches a height of approximately 3m, with a similar spread under our climate conditions. Numerous flower buds often form as early as the end of summer. The flowering itself usually occurs in March-April, depending on the climate and weather conditions, and lasts approximately 3 weeks. The buds open into small round flowers, which are clusters of light lemon-yellow stamens arranged in axillary clusters at the ends of the branches. Their fragrance, delicate, is more noticeable during the hottest hours of the day.

Its evergreen foliage in winter consists of small leaves called phyllodes, which are triangular with pointed tips and almost thorn-like. They are more or less imbricate on the branches and display a soft greyish-green to bluish-green colour.

When planted in the ground, the Mimosa pravissima 'Lemon Twist' can be used as a standalone specimen in a sheltered position away from cold winds, or as part of a shrub border. In coastal areas or mild winter regions, it is often used to create a stunning vegetative screen, either on its own or in combination with olearias, for example. It can be combined with other small trees or shrubs with an exotic appearance, such as Caesalpinia gilliesii, escallonias, grevilleas, or Eucalyptus 'Baby Blue', for example. To complement its early spring flowering, it can be paired with Prunus triloba or Japanese quince... It can be grown in containers throughout France by protecting it from winter frost in a minimally heated greenhouse or conservatory.