Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii)

Family: Fabaceae | Edibility: Edible (1/5)

Acacia mearnsii is a fast-growing leguminous large tree native to Australia growing naturally in brown sandy clay soils and black peaty soils along swampy flats and riverbanks. Over 1000 Acacia species occur in Australia and there are over 1350 species identified so far. Typically Acacia mearnsii reaches 10m tall but can grow to 20m in the right conditions. It has a rounded crown often branching low to the ground and rough brown bark.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Edible portion: Gum, Seeds. The gum is eaten and dissolved in water and used to make drinks. — Edible portion: Gum, Seeds.; The gum is eaten and dissolved in water and used to make drinks.

Habitat & North American Range

An understorey tree of tall open forests, in fringes of closed forests or in dense thickets on recolonized lands. (Zone 8)