The Acacia Anuera, also called Mulga Acacia, is truly one of the most functional and reliable trees to use in arid landscapes. Native to the the dry outbacks of Australia, it is no stranger to rocky soil, long droughts, below freezing temperatures and extreme heat. For most homeowners, the heat of the
Arizona summer is generally the main concern for plant choice- while the cold winters are overlooked. Rightfully so, we all dread the summer and 115 degree temperatures ! Many plants, however, tend to have more issues with the cold that the heat here in the desert. A few nights of of freezing temperatures and the
Tree Doctor's phones are ringing off the hook with calls about "coastal" trees like Ficus, Jacaranda, Orchid and many more. They die back considerably (sometimes 50-75%), losing many years of growth, water and resources in one night. The sanity of the homeowner is also at stake; trying to rig up lights, blankets, small fires to combat the frost. I have seen many methods of protecting trees, mostly Ficus.
Now, moving on to the Acacia Anuera. This tree is fearless to both extremes. In below freezing temperatures every leaf remains in tact, on the tree, and with no frost damage. In 115 temperatures, it's the same story. It is very rare for a true evergreen tree to remain in tact throughout the season. In fact, there really are only a handful of them. So to add to that, this Acacia is also clean, virtually maintenance free, very drought tolerant, and can provide some nice shade without a very invasive root system. They also add a nice contrast to a design, both in color and texture.
This tree is perfect for residential use or commercial use. Whether in a parking lot or shading a driveway, they perform consistently for us time and time again.
