i believe the scientific name is acacia nigrescens (though there are a number of other spiny acacias in the area). i have tried to grow related african species like karoo, caffra, and hereroensis but all are very slow either naturally or they need much higher heat in the summer to be happy (australian species are much happier under our conditions)---it might enjoy texas summers but would probablly not tolerate winter temps below 20-25f.

I'm growing jujub trees & they are doing very well.....This is another thorney muther....Thad

a good substitute for the african acacias might be the native a. wrightii or a. "smallii" (am trying that one and it seems to be surviving so far)---they certainly are thorny and if you like thorny why not a non-thornless form of honey locust or the caspian species of the same genus, definitely aggressive "ouch" plants!!!!

Thad,
I'm wondering about this tree. Do you have a photo? I can't locate one through a google search. Or of the jujub trees? Do they flower?
Joanna

I found a bunch of info on the MSN search, good luck...Thad

I had a fantastic garden when we used to live in Jo'burg, full of thorn trees - fever tree, acacia burkei, acacia karoo, a. tortilis, common hook thorn, to name just a few. Now we live in southern Spain. I see plantations of mangoes and avocados - which begs the question, will not our beloved acacias grow here? Before I buy a hectare of land and start importing seed from SA, I want to see examples of acacias growing in Andalucia, and hopefully contact people who have experimented or even set up a nursery. Any advice, contacts would be appreciated.