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Acacia Baileyana Purpurea - dead or salvageable?

lamble.edwinalamble.edwina Posts: 3
in Problem solving
We have an acacia baileyana purpurea outside (based in Suffolk).  We’ve been in the house 4 years and it’s been glorious every year, flowering profusely in February, until this one when it’s looking extremely sad.  A few weak branches had a few tiny flowers, the rest of the leaves are brown and dried.   I assume it was the fortnight of temperatures we had in December where it didn’t get above zero for days on end.  Any thoughts of whether it’s salvageable?  Do you think a hard prune off of all the dead branches (most of them!) would be too drastic? I keep waiting to see new growth but so far it’s just looking even sadder as time goes on!  Any thoughts/advice would be really appreciated. (Just to add, the leaves in the photo look almost like the new purple growth but I promise they’re not - they are all dried and brown 😞)
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  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Hi, I have an acacia dealbata which is a similar size and supposedly, similar hardiness (down to about -5c). Ours looks all brown and gone and none of the flowers bloomed at all. The ones all around us are exactly the same but I know they can regrow from the roots (from research when I was first given it), so even if all the top growth dies off, it may come back. 
    I don't know about the brown foliage and whether it will drop off to be replaced by new. I would suggest waiting until the end of may or June before doing anything to drastic although I imagine some branches will be dead.  
  • kittycattykinskittycattykins Posts: 4
    I have the same problem & am also in Suffolk, trying to get some advice from a arborist… will let you know what advice I am given 
  • kittycattykinskittycattykins Posts: 4

  • kittycattykinskittycattykins Posts: 4

  • kittycattykinskittycattykins Posts: 4
    That was 20th April 2022 - alive & healthy, & 20th March this year  :'(
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited March 2023
    If you type in'Acacia delbata winter damage - SW London' there is some more information there. Sorry unable to find suggest you scroll down problem solving only a week or so ago.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • lamble.edwinalamble.edwina Posts: 3
    Thanks everyone, really appreciate the responses.  
  • lamble.edwinalamble.edwina Posts: 3
    kittycattykins said:
    That was 20th April 2022 - alive & healthy, & 20th March this year  :'(
    So similar to us.  I missed all its lovely yellow flowers and it’s currently looking sadder by the day :(
  • sthorntonbryarPIKPwfsKsthorntonbryarPIKPwfsK Posts: 1
    I also have the same issue with my pride and joy ABP in Surrey, I have sent photos to RHS Wisley and am awaiting an answer. Will post the response in here.
  • aliciajane1966R4B09BsZaliciajane1966R4B09BsZ Posts: 1
    I am in Shropshire and have had the same issue with 3 of my 4 Acacia, two I have removed as the branches were dead and I think the third is on the way out too.  I was unable to locate the SW London thread so grateful for any advice.
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