An excellent medium sized, semi-deciduous tree that is easy to grow. Stunning yellow puffs rest among small leaves of bright green followed by thick, soft pods. Tolerates a wide rage of soil types, from clay to well composted. Highly desired in the landscape for being very drought tolerant once established. Works well in bonsai / Tropical container culture.
Fun Facts:
- The generic name of this plant derives from Greek ακακία (akakia), the name given by early Greek botanist-physician Pedanius Dioscorides (ca. 40–90) to this tree as a medicinal, in his book Materia Medica
- Acacia I from the Greek akis meaning sharp point – nilotica refers to having occurred alon the Nile River
- The wood of this species is hard and reddish in color
- It is used as firewood and for fencing posts
- The bark exudes an edible gum
- This gum can also be used as glue
- The gum is still used in making candles, inks, matches, and paints
- Tender pods and shoots are used as a vegetable and as forage for camels, sheep and goats, especially in Sudan, where it is said to improve milk from these animals.
- The seeds, when crushed provide the dye for black strings worn by Nankani women Native from Egypt south to Mozambique and Natal
Tropical Seeds -Vachellia Arabic Gum -20 Seeds - See Listing- Acacia nilotica
- All seed descriptions are based on careful study, research and our own growing experiments. They are reproduced here, from our web site and seed company packet descriptions and are Copyright along with photos © [ Summers Seeds Garden Products] 1998-present. All rights reserved. No part of these descriptions may be reproduced, in part or in whole, without the written consent of the owner/publisher.