Acacia covenyi (Blue Bush) - A fast growing evergreen (evergray) shrub or small tree to 20 feet tall with smooth dark gray stems and silver-blue 1 to 2 inch long elliptic leaves (phyllodes). In spring appear the 1/2-inch-wide globular bright yellow flower heads that are held in upright racemes about the length of the phyllodes.
Plant in full sun in a relatively well-drained soil, though tolerant of clay so long as it drains and does not remain waterlogged. Requires little to no irrigation once established and tolerates hard frosts and temperatures below 15° F. This plant makes a beautiful small tree or large shrub and can be lightly pinched or sheared to make a dense hedge. It is not considered to be a terribly long lived plant, so don't expect more than 15 years from it and occasionally stems are crested (also known as fasciation), and these stems are best pruned out.
Acacia covenyi grows naturally in southeastern New South Wales, Australia, where it is relatively rare. The specific epithet honors Robert 'Bob' G. Coveny, a botanical collector at Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. 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. Our sales manager Peggy Koegler and husband John first noticed the beauty of this plant while in Australia and then we were given our first plant by Jo O'Connell of Australian Native Plant Nursery and this plant has become a beautiful specimen in front of our Accounting office and we have sold it at the nursery since 2003.
The information about Acacia covenyi displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |