Acacia baileyana purpurea (Cootamundra Wattle) seeds

Beautiful small tree or shrub with delicate, fern-like, blue-green foliage with a purple tint, and masses of fluffy, yellow flowers in February to April. Being an early flowerer, it provides a welcome splash of colour in late winter.  Stunning if grown as a standard.  An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner, it can also be grown in a greenhouse or as a houseplant. Good for Bonsai.

Half Hardy Tree/Shrub (min 0C)
Height: 5m - smaller if grown in a container
Flowers: February to April
Position: Full sun in a sheltered spot in well-drained soil

Packet of 20 seeds

RHS Award of Garden Merit

This plant/cultivar has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit because it has proved to be reliable in appropriate conditions and a good performing plant. For more information on RHS award of Garden Merit plants visit rhs.org.uk/plants

GROWING GUIDE

Seeds can be sown at any time of year.

• Soak seeds for 12-24 hours or until seeds swell.
• Sow seeds well spaced, 3mm deep in pots of moist seed compost mixed 50:50 with vermiculite or perlite.
• Seal inside a polythene bag and place on a sunny windowsill or in a propagator, and maintain at 20-25C, watering as needed to keep compost just moist.
• Germination can be erratic and takes 1-3 months.

• As the seedlings emerge, increase ventilation by opening the bag or propagator vents.
• When they are large enough to handle, transplant into 7-9cm pots taking care not to disturb any remaining seeds too much.
• Grow in in slightly cooler conditions and re-pot as necessary into larger pots.

• Once established, gradually acclimatise the little trees to outdoor conditions from mid spring by placing them outdoors during the day for 2 weeks, before planting out in the garden/container.
• Protect young trees from frost by moving containers to a frost free place over winter, or for trees planted in the garden, by wrapping in fleece and/or a fleece jacket.