About
Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' is a substantial evergreen shrub that can reach heights of up to 6 meters. Its foliage features finely divided, silvery-grey leaves with a noticeable purple hue. During winter and spring, this plant produces clusters of small, round flowerheads that are yellow and emit a pleasant fragrance.
About the genus
Acacia comprises a variety of forms including deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs, and climbing plants. The leaves can be either alternate and pinnately compound or consist of simple, modified leaf-like structures known as phyllodes. These plants produce small flowers, which may be fragrant, arranged in short spikes, racemes, or spherical clusters.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Trees
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 4-8 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Mediterranean climate plants
- Fragrance
- Flower
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow under glass or indoors in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light. When in growth water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Water sparingly in winter, keeping barely moist. Can be grown outdoors in warmer climates
- Pruning
- Pruning group 8 or pruning group 13 for wall-trained specimens
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed at a minimum of 18°C in spring. Soak in warm water until seeed swells. Root semi-hardwood cuttings in summer
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite under glass
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus