Acacia baileyana Purpurea

Common Name:
Purple-leaf Cootamundra Wattle

Description:
Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea’, or Purple-leaf Cootamundra Wattle, is a highly decorative form of the classic Australian native wattle. This cultivar stands out for its striking purple-tinged new foliage, which contrasts beautifully with the mature silver-grey leaves and brilliant yellow winter flowers. The vivid colour of the emerging foliage gives this tree year-round ornamental appeal, especially in cooler months when the purplish tones intensify. Like the standard species, it is fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and thrives in poor, well-drained soils. It prefers a sunny position but will tolerate part shade and light frosts, performing reliably across most Melbourne gardens. Flowering occurs in mid to late winter, with golden clusters of fluffy blooms that are highly attractive to bees and birds. While ‘Purpurea’ shares the vigour of the standard Acacia baileyana, it is slightly more compact and less prone to spreading, though it can still self-seed and should be planted with awareness of its environmental impact, especially near bushland or native reserves.

Form:

• Tree - Small

• Tree - Medium

Mature Size:

• Height: 4 to 6 metres

• Width: 3 to 5 metres

Aspect:

• Full Sun

• Part Shade

Flowering:

• Flowers in Winter

• Flowers in Spring

Flower Colour:

• Yellow

Key Attributes:

• Australian native

• Suitable for Hedging

• Bird Attracting

• Bee Attracting

• Drought Tolerant

• Fast Growing

• Distinctive purple foliage

• Suitable for Windbreaks

• Suitable for Feature Planting

Toxicity:
Not known to be toxic to humans or animals.

Companion Plants:

• Grevillea

• Eremophila

• Lomandra

• Westringia

• Leptospermum