Acacia oxycedrus, commonly known as spike wattle, is an erect or spreading shrub which is endemic to Australia.

Description

The prickly shrub grows to a height of 1 to 3 m and has a width of around 2 mwith a dense habit. Like most species of Acacia it has phyllodes rather than true leaves. The dark green, rigid and sharp-pointed phyllodes have three or four prominent longitudinal veins. The bright yellow to pale yellow cylindrical flowerheads appear in groups of one to three in the axils of the phyllodes from July to October, followed by straight or slightly curved seed pods which are 4 to 10 cm long and 3 to 6 mm wide.

Distribution

The species occurs on sandy soil in dry sclerophyll forest or heath in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

Cultivation

The shrub is available commercially but can be propagated by seed scarification or using boiling water. It grows well in open sun and in a well drained position in most soil types. It is frost hardy and useful for road batters or as a screen or hedge plant that will form an impenetrable barrier.