Sweet acacia is salt-tolerant native
The sweet acacia (Vachellia farnesiana) is a highly salt-tolerant native plant. The coastal forest shrub grows best in full sun and dry soils, and it can handle occasional flooding with either freshwater or saltwater. However, it is prone to root rot if the location stays wet too long. It will also drop its leaves in long periods of drought. The sweet acacia can be grown as a barrier shrub for wildlife or as a nice specimen tree as it can grow up to 15-20 feet tall. The leaves are soft and feathery, and the flowers — which occur most of the year — are very fragrant puff balls of bright yellow. The fragrance is where the common name was derived, and the flowers are often used in making perfume. Gardeners and landscapers should note that the plant is not just sweet smells and feathery leaves — it has a thorny side. The sweet acacia is covered in light gray spines that occur in pairs at the base of the leaves.
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