This Acacia has a variable habit and can grow as a shrub (in more arid conditions) or a small tree (with more water available). It is often a profuse flowering plant with rod-like flower heads and provides light shade.
Livestock can eat the foliage, while the wood was used for Aboriginal weapons and tools, as well as for fences. The mulga has some other interesting uses, the seeds are edible once cooked, dried and ground, and are then traditionally made into seed cakes. It also produces a vegetative ‘fruit’ called the mulga apple, which is a swollen shoot caused by a wasp whose sting creates an insect gall, purported to have a sweet taste similar to an apple.
Great plant for dry areas as it is drought resistant, and also tolerant of frosts. It needs a medium to light well-drained soil and is tolerant to lime. Grows best in full sun, although can grow in part-sun. The roots of this plant fix nitrogen gas from the air in soil which is used by the roots as a source of nitrogen and helps deal with the poor soils in its natural growing environment.