Acacia redolens

This sprawling evergreen with woody stems grows two to four feet tall and spreads six to twelve feet, covering a large area of ground very quickly. It has long, leathery, dark greenish-olive leaves. In spring, a mass of ball-like, golden yellow, spiked flowers appear followed by narrow, thick, brown seedpods. The plant is extremely drought-resistant and needs little water. During hot, dry summers, it responds to supplemental irrigation, but does not like to be over-watered. The prostrate acacia handles most soils, including those that are alkaline and slightly saline, as long as they are well-draining. The plant is hardy to fifteen to twenty degrees Fahrenheit, likes full sun and takes reflected heat. When young, it is slow to take off, and then grows at a quicker rate when its roots become established. This plant is maintenance-free and easy to grow. Prune it in early spring, if needed, by making small cuts. Do not heavily prune. The variety ‘Desert Carpet’ is a more compact, lower growing plant. ‘Low Boy’ is a variety popularized in California and is used to cover large areas. Use this plant for soil stabilization or plant it in masses to quickly cover expansive areas. This groundcover works well as a low shrub or bank cover in landscapes or along freeways, for erosion control, or to stabilize a sloping area. It also works in masses to create a continuous groundcover. Prostrate acacia is native to the inland areas of Western Australia, where it grows in saline and alkaline soils.