Plants in Israel: Golden-wreath Wattle

Acacia saligna, Acacia cyanophylla, Sydney Golden Wattle,
Hebrew: שיטה כחלחלה, Arabic: أكاسيا ساليغنا

Scientific name:   Acacia saligna Labill) H.L.Wendl. fil
Synonym name:   Acacia cyanophylla Lindley
English name:   Golden-wreath Wattle, Orange Wattle, Blue-leaf Wattle
Hebrew/שם עברי:   שיטה כחלחלה
Arabic/الاسم العربي:   أكاسيا ساليغنا
Español:   Acacia de hoja azul
Plant Family:   Fabaceae/Mimosaceae, שיטיים


Life form:   Tree
Leaves:   Alternate
Flowers:   Yellow-orange
Flowering Period:   March, April
Habitat:   Light soils
Distribution:   The Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands
Chorotype:   Australian
Summer shedding:   Perennating


Derivation of the botanical name:

Acacia, from the Greek word akis, meaning a point or a barb.

saligna, willowy, resembling willow.
cyanophylla, with blue leaves.
The hebrew word: שיטה, shittah (Acacia, tree and a wood), borrowed from Arabic sant, سنط, in ancient Egyptian: Sndt, Sntt.

  • The standard author abbreviation Labill. is used to indicate Jacques Labillardière (1755–1834), a French naturalist.
  • The standard author abbreviation H.L.Wendl. is used to indicate Heinrich Wendland (1825–1903), a German botanist who authored a number of Acacia species.
  • The standard author abbreviation Lindley is used to indicate John Lindley (1799–1865), an English botanist.

Acacia salicina, an Australian acacia, was introduced into Israel mainly in the arid region of the country, for afforestation purposes and soil erosion control. It is found in the arid part of the country mainly on wadi banks and along roadsides. Although it does not create dense thickets, it displays a widespread distribution throughout the Negev desert.