Does anyone have prairie acacia in their gardens? It’s funny – weve had a stand of prairie acacia outside our greenhouse parking lot since before I started working here seven years ago, and I pass by it regularly. However, this spring, I stopped and looked – really paid attention to this native nectar plant. As early as April, the feathery shrubs were covered in blooms and pollinators. I saw a great purple hairstreak, dozens of bees and wasps, and a half a dozen other butterflies. The plants were still in bloom when I walked out there recently. Prairie acacia is extremely drought tolerant; in fact, scientists have been testing its introduction in arid climates across Africa as erosion control. However, it does spread rapidly; it has taken over the entire strip of land by our greenhouse. On ranch land, livestock will graze prairie acacia. It can be toxic in high doses and to some other animals, though. Prairie acacia is a deciduous perennial. It will die back to the ground after the first frost, growing out again the next spring.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 12:00:01 +0000
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