Prickly Moses Plant Care

Prickly Moses (Acacia pulchella) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Acacia genus. Prickly Moses is native to Western Australia. Prickly Moses is also known as Kangaroo Thorn.

Prickly Moses displays a tall, spreading tree growth habit, reaching up to 30 ft tall with a spread of approximately 20 ft. Prickly Moses produces clusters of small yellow or white flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Prickly Moses every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Prickly Moses thrives in full sun.

Acacia pulchella tolerates temperatures of 50–90°F. Prickly Moses prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy soil mix with some organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Prickly Moses to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Prickly Moses every 8 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun and well-draining sandy soil mix with some organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Prickly Moses is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Prickly Moses can spread to about 20 ft (6.1 m) and reach about 30 ft (9 m) tall. Space plants about 20 ft (6.1 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Prickly Moses while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Prickly Moses is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Prickly Moses can be propagated through seeds, cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to gold dust wattle plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Prickly Moses is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, caterpillars. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Prickly Moses grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Prickly Moses is native to Western Australia. In cooler regions, grow Prickly Moses as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.