Learn about care and commercial growing of Acacias – the native Australian food crop

In this Acacias online course, you will learn about the identification, botany, and culture (planting, watering, feeding, propagation) of the wattles. Around 50 species are studied in detail.  You also learn about the commercial uses of Acacias as building materials, food plants, for tanning, craft, etc.  Suitable for horticulturalist, crop growers and interested students.

Course Aims:

• Describe the way in which Acacias are classified.
• Determine how to find reliable resource information that relates to Acacias
• Describe the physiology of Acacias
• Determine cultural requirements that are common to Acacias
• Determine propagation methods that are commonly applicable to Acacias.
• Describe a variety of commercial uses for Acacias.
• Describe a range of other practical uses for Acacias.
• Identify and recommend treatment for a variety of health problems occurring with Acacias.
• Develop an in depth understanding of one aspect of Acacia Growing.

Detailed Course Outline

This course is made up a number of lessons or units. Each of these has self assessment questions, a set task (practical homework) and an assignment which you can upload online.

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction

• • Review of the system of plant identification, information sources, etc.

2. Physiology of Acacias

• • Flower structure
  • Foliage types within the genus
  • Flower types within the genus
  • Acacia fruits

3. Culture

• Planting, staking, mulching, watering, feeding, pruning

4. Propagation

• • Methods of propagating Acacias.
  • Propagation of selected varieties

5. Acacias in the Garden

• • Landscape uses
  • Plant selection
  • Acacias for different situations (Cold hardy, drought hardy, humid climates, summer flowering, autumn flowering, etc)
  • The Design Process

6. Other Uses for Acacias

• • Timber uses
  • Tanning
  • Cut Flowers
  • Food Source
  • Gum Arabic

7. Pest & Diseases

• • Galls, Beetles, Weevils, etc
  • Environmental problems: Frost, Shade, Temperature, Wind

8. Special Project

• • PBL project where you plan the establishment of a collection of different cultivars of Acacias suited to growing in a specified locality.

When you have completed the lessons of your Certificate course, you will be given the option of taking the optional exam. It’s okay if you don’t want the exam, we still issue your Careerline Certificate. For Advanced Certificates however, the exam is compulsory (per module) and are included in the course fee.