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Acacia gerrardii
can grow to a mature height of 30' to 35' feet and as wide. In
natural setting it is found in arid river valleys or shrubby
uplands. Its growth rate and overall appearance is similar to
that of Sweet Acacia (Acacia smallii). Like the Sweet Acacia, it
also produces a scattered shade but has leaves that are slightly
larger. White colored 1/4 to 1/2 inch diameter flowers appear in
spring that develop into curved, gray, velvety seed pods. On
young trees thorns are numerous, found in pairs and are bright
white making them easily visible. These thorns are very
superficial and as the branch matures the thorns are sloughed
off as layers of papery brown to tan bark peels off. Mature
trunks and branches are almost thorn free. The leaf canopy is
broad and may be either flat topped or dome shaped. Grey-haired
Acacia is temperature deciduous and in colder locations will
lose all its leaves in winter. It is hardy to at least 20
degrees F and sustained only minor damage from temperatures as
low as 15 F. Its unusual papery bark, ample shade and spring
flowers make Acacia gerrardii an excellent tree to mix with more
traditional arid landscape species in both formal and more
naturalistic desert landscape designs.
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