Sydney golden wattle (Acacia longifolia) is native to southeastern Australia, where it grows very quickly, reaching up to 30 feet in five to six years. In its native habitat, it is a shrub or small tree with dark gray, finely fissured bark and green foliage. The common name refers to its abundance around Sydney and its flower color. The yellow flower heads are cylindrical in shape and occur in pairs or singly in the phyllode (a winged leaf stalk that functions as a leaf) axils. It blooms in dense spikes, ¾ inch to 2 inches long. The several uses for Acacia longifolia include food (flowers, seeds, and seed pods), yellow dye (from the flowers), green dye (from the pods), and wood. The tree's bark has limited use in tanning, primarily for sheepskin. The plant is also useful for the prevention of soil erosion, securing uninhabited sand in coastal areas, primarily where there are not too many hard frosts. In its native New South Wales and Victoria, it has become a troublesome roadside and creek weed.