Plant in full sun in a fairly well drained soil (performs best in a sandy soil) and irrigate infrequently - this is a drought tolerant plant and it is hardy down to around 20° F. This unusual plant is fast growing, will bloom in its first year from seed and is noted to respond well to an annual tip pruning to keep it denser.

Sandpaper Wattle comes from south western Western Australia where it is found on very dry granite hills and outcrops with shallow sandy soils. The name Acacia comes either from the Greek word "akazo" meaning "to sharpen" or from the Egyptian word "akakia", a name given to the Egyptian Thorn, Acacia arabica (now Vachellia nilotica). The specific epithet comes from the Latin word "denti" meaning "tooth" in reference to the denticulate margins of the phyllodes. The common name is derived from the scabrous surface of these phyllodes, which feel like sandpaper to the touch.

Our thanks go out to Troy McGregor at Waltzing Matilija Nursery for growing the seedlings of our first crop of this interesting plant and to Jo O'Connell at Australian Native Nursery for the images of it on this page. 

The information about Acacia denticulosa that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.