Acacia howittii Clair De Lune

Acacia howittii 'Clair de Lune' is a cultivar resulting from the hybridisation of A. howittii. It is very ornamental with a weeping, compact habit and generous lemon-yellow, fragrant flowering in spring. It is a small tree or medium-sized bush whose thin and trailing stems and leaves form a graceful silhouette that works wonders when planted alone in a small garden or near a terrace. Its foliage consists of linear phyllodes that emerge in a magnificent purple-red colour before turning light green and persisting throughout the year. From March to April, it is covered with dense clusters of fluffy globular flowers, like a golden rain. It is not very hardy but greatly appreciates heat and is perfectly resistant to drought, thriving in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil in warm regions. In colder climates, you can grow it in a large container that will overwinter indoors in a bright, frost-free room.

Mimosas should not be confused with the tree we call acacia. They belong to the Fabaceae family, just like alfalfa and lupins. Acacia howittii 'Clair de Lune' is a hybrid originating from the French Riviera, probably resulting from a cross with A. howittii and probably A. fimbriata, with which it seems to share many characteristics: leaf type, habit, colour, and flowering time. It is often grafted onto Acacia retinodes (the four seasons mimosa) which has the advantage of not producing suckers and allows cultivation in calcareous and very dry soils. In this case, the less hardy root stock perishes below -5°C (23°F) if not protected.

'Clair de Lune' exhibits a compact, gracefully weeping habit, carried by long angular and wrinkled trailing branches, with colours ranging from green to purple. In our climates, it reaches a height of about 4m (13ft) with a spread of 3m (10ft). Its growth is rapid; a specimen planted in the ground for 2 years can already exceed 2m (7ft) in height in a warm climate. Its lifespan is around 10 to 15 years. Numerous flower buds appear in late summer. The actual flowering usually takes place in March-April, depending on the climate and weather conditions, and lasts about 3 weeks. Just before blooming, the buds turn red. They open into small round flowers that are clusters of bright lemon-yellow stamens gathered in the axils of the leaves located towards the ends of the branches. Their fragrance is more noticeable during the hottest hours of the day. Its evergreen foliage consists of small leaves called phyllodes, with an oval-lanceolate or even linear shape, velvety and slightly sticky to the touch. They are leathery and have a light green colour. The young reddish-purple shoots contrast beautifully with the bright lemon-yellow of the flowering.

When planted in the ground in mild climates, Acacia howittii 'Clair de Lune' can be placed as a standalone specimen, sheltered from strong winds, or used in shrub beds. In favourable climates, it is often used to create a superb green screen, either alone or alongside olearias, for example. It can be planted with other tender shrubs with an exotic appearance, such as Caesalpinia gilliesii, Jacaranda mimosifolia (Blue Flamboyant), Sesbania punicea, escallonias, or Grevillea. To accompany its early spring flowering, it can be paired with Prunus triloba, Japanese quinces, or Teucrium fruticans 'Azureum'. It can be grown in a container, protecting it from winter frost in a minimally heated greenhouse or conservatory.