
Acacia longifolia
Common name: Coastal or Golden Wattle
I grow best: Shrub to tree up to 8m
• Attracts birds, native bees and invertebrate creators
• Flowers June to October
• Well drained or sandy soils
• Cultural uses
• Eastern Suburb Banksia Scrub
Looks like: Shrub or tree 2-5m tall, leaves narrow linear- elliptic and straight with nerves being prominent. Flowers are dense and golden yellow, long and fluffy coming off a spike.
Habitat: Open forest, common coastal and ranges all states around Australia
Traditional uses: The seeds of a large number of wattle species are edible and may be harvested for grinding into a flour, for the production of bread, or an edible paste. The plant is valued as a source of food, medicine and for the quality of its timber, used in the production of a range of tools and weapons. Inclusive of boomerangs, spear throwers, spears, digging sticks, parrying shields and clubs. The gum of a number of wattle varieties is edible, with the flavour akin to that of a mild sugary sweetness, which can become unpalatable when offset by high amounts of the plant’s tannin. The gum in some cases was utilised in the production of a drink, which served as remedy to coughs, colds and chest infections. Gum could also be applied directly to cuts and abrasions as an antiseptic preparation, either in a solid or powdered form.
