Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Prairie Acacia

Acacia angustissima

Other common name(s):

White Ball Acacia, Fern Acacia, Whiteball Acacia, Prairie Wattle, White-ball Acacia

Family:

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks, Flat Tablelands and Valleys
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

1
to
3
ft.

Spread

1.5
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland Edge

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Larval Host, Nectar, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Maintenance

Drought Tolerant. Colonizes by rhizomes, and is good as a ground cover, for erosion control, and prairie restoration. It is similar in appearance to Illinois Bundleflower. Plant on north or east slope, but can also take full sun on a south slope with some supplemental water. Unlike most shrubs it will go dormant or die to the ground in winter, but grows back quickly in spring. In frost-free zones this plant can become a tall shrub. Trim dead foliage before spring growth. Plants not common in nurseries but seeds are commercially available. Native habitat: prairie, woodlands’ edge, hillsides.

Description

Blooms June-September. A mounding, thornless acacia. Fine, feathery compound foliage, that closes at night, is its most attractive feature. Produces cream-colored round clusters of flowers. The fruit is a legume pod. This plant is unusual in that some sources list it as herbaceous and others as a woody shrub. It can have a woody base, but herbaceous stems and leaves. Larval host: Sphingicampa raspa Moth.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Acaciella angustissima

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas, 2) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Acaciella+angustissima&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ACAN11. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=10283&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg 96. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=26418#null, 7) https://www.spadefootnursery.com/fagaceae-acaciella-angustissima?rq=acacia%20angustissima, 8) https://garden.org/plants/view/79647/Timbre-Acaciella-angustissima/, 9) https://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Fabaceae/Acaciella%20angustissima,%20White-ball%20Acacia.html, 10) https://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php?genus=Acaciella&species=angustissima, 11) chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_acan.pdf

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Sow outside in the fall. Collect in late summer to early fall when seeds are firm, filled out, and dark brown. Allow pods to dry on the plant and break open to collect seeds. 1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ACAN11 2) https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/73443, 3) Wasowski, Sally and Andy, 1991, Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region.
Seed Scarification The primary hurdle is the hard seed coat, which prevents water uptake and germination. Scarification, such as nicking the seed coat with a file or sandpaper, or soaking seeds in hot water (near boiling) for a short period (e.g., 30 seconds) can improve germination rates. After scarification, soaking the seeds in water for 24-48 hours before sowing can further aid germination. Sowing should be done in a well-draining seed starting mix, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Warm temperatures (20-25°C) are beneficial. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-acaciella-angustissima-2/#google_vignette
Semi-harwood Cutting Propagation through cuttings is also possible with Acaciella angustissima, but success depends on several factors. Cuttings can be prone to fungal diseases and rot if not properly treated. Rooting can be slow and inconsistent. Use a rooting hormone to increase the chances of success. Plant the cuttings in a well-draining, sterile potting mix and maintain high humidity (e.g., using a propagator or covering with a plastic bag). Ensure adequate light but avoid direct sunlight. Semi-hardwood cuttings, taken in late spring or early summer, are generally recommended. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-acaciella-angustissima-2/

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason