In the Victorian Volcanic Plains this species often grows as a bushy, small tree in exposed, windy areas but it grows much taller along creeklines. In mountainous areas, it may grow to be a tall forest tree. The dull green phyllodes; flattened leaf-like stems which replace the true leaves as the main photosynthetic structure, are short and may be covered with mealy scales. Of the other indigenous wattles around Melbourne it is easily confused with Lightwood, Acacia implexa. The Lightwood, is similar in almost all respects except that the phyllodes are usually lighter and sickle-shaped. A reliable distinction between the two is that Blackwood flowers in early spring whereas Lightwood flowers in December-February. Both species produce clumps of twisted pods but in the Blackwood these are produced in the months immediately after flowering, releasing the seeds, each half-wrapped in a long, twisted orange ribbon-like stalk. The pods of Lightwood are extravagantly twisted and the shiny black seeds lack the colourful stalk (aril)of Blackwood seeds.