Plant · P-1156

Blackwood

Acacia melanoxylon

Blackwood is a fast-growing evergreen tree from southeastern Australia, grown around the world for a hard, dark, close-grained timber that takes a high polish and finishes into fine furniture. It fixes its own nitrogen and its roots hold soil against erosion, but those same roots are vigorous enough to sucker and can lift foundations, pavement and buried pipes, so it wants planting well clear of structures. The scented, pollen-rich spring flowers are edible cooked and yield a yellow dye, and birds spread the seed widely enough that it has escaped cultivation and turned weedy in Hawaii and coastal California. It tolerates brief cold to about -10 C, resprouting from the base after a harder freeze.