Australia: Australia - New South Wales, - South Australia, - Victoria
Golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha) is native to large parts of south-eastern Australia and is the official floral emblem of Australia. It is widespread and often locally common in Victoria and extends west into many parts of South Australia, including the Yorke Peninsula, the southern Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and the areas south-east of the Flinders Range. There are also isolated natural occurrences of this species in the inland parts of southern New South Wales and near Canberra in the ACT.
4-5 m high shrubs or 8-10 m tall trees with bright yellow fragrant, showy clusters of golden flowers.
This plant has been widely grown as an ornamental garden plant and for cut flower production, but has become a weed in South Africa, Tanzania, Italy, Portugal, Sardinia, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, as well as Western Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales. Acacia pycnantha was made the official floral emblem of Australia in 1988, and has been featured on the country's postal stamps. It was introduced to the northern hemisphere in the 1800s. It is used for commercial production of tannins (used in tanning leather); its bark produces the highest yield of all the wattles. It has been planted as an ornamental for its bright yellow, scented flowers, which have been also used for making perfume.