Leatherleaf Acacia
Acacia craspedocarpa
A petite Australian acacia with thick leathery foliage and cheerful yellow puffball blooms, perfect for containers and small gardens.
Hardy to about 15-18°F with good frost tolerance for a small acacia, suited to low and mid desert.
AMWUA Notes
Very low water use once established; overwatering causes leggy, open growth.
Care Guide
Deep-soak every 2-3 weeks in summer and monthly in winter once established; highly drought tolerant.
Naturally dense; shear or tip-prune lightly to shape and avoid heavy cutting that opens the canopy.
No fertilizer needed; a nitrogen-fixing legume.
Essentially pest-free.
Yellow puffball flowers appear spring into summer; the thick leathery leaves are evergreen.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Well-draining native, gravelly, or decomposed-granite soil; tolerates caliche, rocky ground, and alkaline pH 7.5–8.5
Needs well-drained soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
Grown from scarified seed; containers transplant with minimal shock
6–8 ft
Shallow, non-invasive roots; safe close to pools, walls, and hardscape
Placement Tips
- •Very compact at about 8 ft wide, so it thrives in large containers, narrow planters, and small entry beds.
- •Thornless and low-litter, safe to plant close to pools, patios, and walkways.
- •Full sun keeps the thick leathery foliage dense; it tolerates reflected heat against west walls.
- •Excellent as a clipped screen or informal hedge when spaced 6-8 ft apart.
Features
Best Uses
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
Love Leatherleaf Acacia? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.
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Use this care guide to maintain your Leatherleaf Acacia. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.