Acacia.jpgAcacia trees bloom - Silver wattle is particularly spectacular

When: Late July to September

Where: East coast especially Freycinet Peninsula

The Acacia genus, which includes all the wattles, is the biggest group of trees and shrubs in Australia, topping even the eucalypts in diversity. They were part of the original Gondwana vegetation, which is why, today, acacias are also found in Africa, South America and India. Thanks to the humble wattle tree, the winter landscape of the bush and of many Australian gardens glows with golden light, despite the cold weather. With their masses of yellow blooms, wattles are nothing short of spectacular. Up to a third of Australia's 960 species of wattle will flower in winter.