- Mature height
- 1m to 2m
- Mature width
- 1m to 2m
Acacia howittii 'Honey Bun' is a compact evergreen Australian native shrub with a rounded, densely furnished frame and fine, softly weeping foliage. The small green phyllodes give a silky texture that moves in any breeze, and the naturally tight habit means the plant holds its shape without being shaped for it.
Plant it in full sun to light shade in soil that drains, from sand through to reasonable loam. Growth is moderate at 20 to 40 centimetres a year. Established plants are drought hardy and take light to moderate frost, and it performs well in temperate, coastal and Mediterranean districts across southern Australia.
It fits smaller courtyards, low informal hedges, native garden borders and large containers, and it works as a soft foreground to coarser shrubs. Because it stays compact on its own, it earns a place in low maintenance residential and commercial planting where a native shrub needs to stay neat with almost no clipping.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Honey Bun Wattle
What is Acacia howittii 'Honey Bun'?
It is a compact cultivated form of Sticky Wattle, an Australian native from Victoria. The plant is evergreen, rounded and densely branched, with fine soft foliage that weeps at the tips. Pale yellow flowers come through winter and spring. It is used for low screening, feature planting, native borders and pots where a tidy native shrub is wanted.
How big does Honey Bun Wattle grow?
It settles at about 1 to 1.5 metres high and roughly as wide, which is a fraction of the size of the parent species. The compact habit is genetic rather than the result of pruning, so it holds those proportions on its own. Container plants generally sit at the lower end of that range.
How far apart should I plant it for a low hedge?
Space plants 80 centimetres to 1 metre apart for a continuous low hedge or border, which lets the canopies knit within a couple of seasons. For a looser informal grouping, 1 to 1.5 metres gives each plant room to show its rounded shape. In mass planting, stagger the rows so gaps do not line up.
Does it need sun or shade?
Full sun to light shade is the range it is happy in. Sun produces the densest, most compact plant and the best foliage colour, while light shade gives a slightly more open habit that still looks well. It will not thrive in heavy shade, and it needs drainage in any position, particularly over winter.
Is it frost tolerant?
Yes, it handles light to moderate frost once established, which covers most temperate gardens and many inland ones. In the first winter after planting, young shrubs in cold districts do better with a little shelter. Any frost burn on the outer foliage grows out in spring and does not set the plant back.
Can it grow in pots?
It suits large pots well because it stays small and keeps its shape without clipping. Use a free draining native mix, choose a container wide enough for the root system to spread, and water regularly through summer. Feed sparingly with a low phosphorus native fertiliser and refresh the top of the mix each year.
How do I care for Honey Bun Wattle?
Water through the first summer, mulch to keep the root zone cool, and use only low phosphorus native fertiliser if you feed at all. Pruning needs are minimal, though a light all over trim after flowering keeps the plant dense and prolongs its life. Avoid cutting back into bare wood, which will not reshoot.