Acacia Farnesiana

Botanical Overview

• Scientific Name: Acacia farnesiana
• Synonyms: Vachellia farnesiana (a more recent classification)
• Common Names: Sweet Acacia, Cassie, Huisache, Popinac
• Family: Fabaceae (Legume family)
• Native Range: Likely native to the Americas (Central America and the southern U.S.), but now found worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions.

Description

• Size: Usually grows 2–8 meters (6–26 ft) tall.
• Leaves: Bipinnately compound with small leaflets.
• Flowers: Bright yellow, ball-shaped clusters; highly fragrant—smell reminiscent of violets.
• Thorns: Paired thorns at nodes, typical of many acacias.
• Fruit: Flattened seed pods containing several hard seeds.

Habitat and Growth

• Climate: Warm, dry to semi-arid climates; drought-tolerant.
• Soil: Adaptable to a range of soils but prefers well-drained.
• Invasiveness: Considered invasive in some regions, such as parts of Australia and the Pacific Islands.