Fluffy yellow, lightly scented ball-shaped flowers cover the ends of the branches from winter to spring. An evergreen tree with a pale green trunk and large, feathery glaucous leaves, which emerge with a purple flush.

This mimosa (or wattle) makes an ideal conservatory plant - while in warmer gardens, it can be planted in a sheltered spot against a south-facing wall.

Acacia dealbata will never reach the magnitude of those in its native Australia but it can grow to 12m (40ft) in 20 years, so it does need plenty of room in the garden.