Acacia sieberiana var. woodii

  • Acacia siberiana woodii bark
  • Acacia siberiana woodii form
  • Acacia siberiana woodii pods
Click on an image to enlarge it.
Botanical Name
Acacia sieberiana var. woodii
Family
Fabaceae - The legume and pod-bearing family. (Pea & Bean Family)
Pronunciation
uh-KAY-shuh sy-ber-ee-AH-nuh variety WOOD-ee-eye
Common Name(s)
paperbark thorn; papierbasdoring; Mphoka (N. Sotho); umNganduzi (Siswati); Mokha, Morumosetlha (Tswana); Musaunga (Venda); umKhamba (Zulu); Nkowankowa (Tsonga)
Plant Group
  • Tree A woody, self-supporting perennial plant usually with a single main stem and generally growing more than 6 meters tall.
Plant Size
  • Small to Medium
    Tree8m to 15m
    Shrub75cm to 1m
    Perennial/ground cover20cm to 40cm
    Bulb30cm to 40cm
    Succulent20cm to 40cm
Position
  • Partial Shade The area is in shade for part of the day and in full sun for part of the day.
  • Sun The area is in full sun for all or most of the day, all year round.
General Information
  • Attractive fruits, berries or seeds Brightly coloured fruits or berries increase and extend the visual impact of the plant and are especially attractive to birds and other small wildlife.
  • Deciduous Plants which completely lose their foliage for part of the year.
  • Drought Tolerance: Medium The plant is moderately adapted to arid conditions and can survive short periods of drought and high temperatures without extra water.
  • Evergreen Plants that have leaves all year round.
  • Evergreen to semi-deciduous The plant is evergreen in warmer, wetter parts of the country, but may lose some of its leaves during winter in colder, drier situations.
  • Fragrant / Aromatic These plants posses a strong, usually pleasant odour.
  • Frost: Half-hardy The plant is able to survive low temperatures and some frost but requires protection against severe frost.
  • Thorns / Spines / Prickles Thorn: A hard, woody, pointed branchlet. Spine: A modified leaf forming a hard, sharp-pointed outgrowth. Prickle: A small, sharp-pointed outgrowth growing from the bark of the plant.
  • Water Moderate These plants will need some extra watering compared to water-wise plants. Plant them together, in at least some shade and in a convenient proximity to the house so that grey water can be utilised during times of drought.
  • Wind Tolerant Plants able to withstand the effect of strong winds.
Specific Information
With its dense, widely spreading foliage, a flattened crown and flaking bark, Acacia Sieberiana is easily identified. The fluffy, scented blooms are conspicuous against the deep green, feathery foliage. The papery bark peels off in flattish strips, displaying yellow under bark. The bark is highly inflammable and sensitive to fire, (so perhaps its best not to build the braai under it after all). This tree will remain evergreen in a moist habitat but in cooler or drier parts it is more usually semi- or completely deciduous. Absent at times, the paired, white thorns are joined at the base and grow up to 100mm in length. The light brown pods, which have a musty or fruity smell and are 100 to 200 mm long, ripen in autumn. A desirable nesting site for many birds, Acacia Sieberiana is veritable supermarket for a variety of birds, beetles, butterflies, bees and other bugs.
Flowers
Description
fluffy balls 1 - 1,5cm in diameter
Season
  • Spring Plants will seldom bloom for the entire season as given in the list, but should flower during a period within these parameters.
Colour
  • cream
  • yellowish
Growth Rate
  • Moderate to Fast Specifying growth rate can be very misleading as there is considerable variation of growth rate depending on type and species of plant, available water, supplementary feeding, mulching and general care, as well as the plants suitability and adaptability to the garden environment.
Plant Uses
  • Accent or Focal Point A plant used to attract the attention because of its colour or form.
  • Attracts bees and other insects This plant attracts insects which can be food for birds or other creatures in your garden.
  • Attracts Birds This plant will attract birds.
  • Boundary A plant useful for planting around the edges of the property to form a green or colourful backdrop, an impenetrable hedge, to hide walls or create privacy.
  • Provides light / dappled shade A tree with an open to sparse canopy, through which varying degrees of sunlight can penetrate.
  • Suitable for bonsai A shrub or tree that lends itself to being dwarfed.
  • Wild Garden An indigenous garden planted for the benefit of wildlife and birds. Provides food, water, a variety of mini-biomes and no poisonous chemicals are used.
Ad Break
Distribution
from KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga and the Northern Province in South Africa, as well as Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana and northern Namibia, and tropical parts of Africa up to Ethiopia, in bushveld (woodland), wooded grassland, along river banks and on floodplains
Planting Suggestions
The crown of the paperbark spreads widely and can reach up to 16m across in prime locations. Before planting the tree, make sure that you have enough room for it to spread without interfering with surrounding structures. Plant the tree in a large hole filled with a generous mixture of compost, kraal manure and garden topsoil. Water well for at least the first year for very fast growth - approximately 1 ½ metres per year if consistently watered. Protect from frost for the first two to three years. See this blog post for more information.
Medicinal Uses
The leaves, bark, pods, roots and resin of the paperbark thorn have astringent properties and are used medicinally for a wide variety of ills, by indigenous populations throughout its natural distribution. Stomach-ache, inflammation of the urinary tract, colds and chest problems, syphilis and gonorrhea, diarrhoea, hemorrhage, eye inflammation, kidney problems, rheumatism and disorders of the circulatory system, and as a treatment for tapeworm and bilharzia, have all been cited. The gum is edible and is used as an adhesive while the inner bark is used to make twine for threading beads.
Availability
  • Unavailable The plant is currently unavailable at our nursery.

Discuss this plant

Share knowledge, ask a question or give an experience.

Bottom Border