Collection: Black Wattle Firewood for Sale | Cape Town

Black Wattle Wood: Origin, Biology & Technical Facts

Black Wattle (Acacia Mearnsii) is a medium-density hardwood originally native to Australia and Tasmania, now firmly established as the go-to firewood throughout South Africa, and especially Cape Town. Thriving in a range of soils and climates, Black Wattle trees are fast-growing—reaching up to 15 meters in height and living 10–20 years. Their rapid colonisation makes them both a challenge to the Cape’s indigenous landscape and an ecological opportunity for responsible firewood use.

• Density: ~730kg/m³ when dry. This strikes a balance between easy lighting and a long, hot burn.
• Grain & Texture: Straight-grained, with a fine, durable texture that is easy to split when green, but hardens considerably during curing.
• Colour: Turns a rich reddish hue when fully seasoned—a Cape Town hallmark for quality wood!
• Tannin Content: The bark contains a high level of tannins, making it prized for water treatment, leather, adhesives, and industrial applications.
• Versatile Uses: From braai fires and fireplaces to pizza ovens and charcoal, Black Wattle is a true local star for Cape Town heat, hospitality, and cooking culture.
• Sustainability: Because it is invasive, every log used is a win for biodiversity and water conservation.

It’s little wonder Black Wattle is Cape Town’s most talked-about and trusted firewood.

Moisture Testing & Burn Science

• Bagged Black Wattle: Always seasoned at least 3–6 months, batch-tested and delivered at a fire-ready 18–25% moisture content for instant, clean burning.
• Bulk Loose Black Wattle: Shipped semi-seasoned, around 25% moisture—perfect for home seasoning (4–8 weeks under Cape Town sun and breezes finishes the job).
• Why Moisture Matters: Drier wood means easier ignition, hotter and steadier flames, less smoke, and minimal soot or creosote build-up. Moisture results available on request for commercial buyers that require a formal certificate.
• Burn Characteristics: Quick to light (especially when split thin), Black Wattle burns hot, with a steady coal bed, and very little ash compared to denser woods. The clean burn also means it’s popular in pizzerias, restaurants, and boutique Cape B&Bs.

Top tip: Stack wood off the ground, split bulk or round pieces, and rotate your piles every month for best seasoning and performance!

Cape Town Black Wattle Price Index (November 2025)

Notes: Prices reflect website listings captured November 2025. Units normalised to per-bag (20–22 pcs) and per-piece equivalents. Volume discounts apply — the more you buy, the cheaper the per-unit price.

Mother City Firewood prices include stacking (free delivery for orders over R1000), prior testing, and local delivery. All prices based on current market survey of Cape Town’s leading wood suppliers.

Scientific, Industry & Government Citations About Black Wattle

• Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) is formally listed as an invasive alien in South Africa ( NEM:BA Category 2 fact sheet · national invasive species list ). Responsible use as firewood comes from legal clearing programmes, Working for Water , which targets alien thickets and supports catchment/river-flow recovery.
• Water impact (Black Wattle & other wattles): National hydrology modelling finds that wattles (incl. Black Wattle) account for ~ 34% of South Africa’s total flow reductions from invasive plants—about ~491 million m³/year (34% of 1,444 million m³/yr). Water SA 2016 (Le Maitre et al.) . Clearing riparian A. mearnsii has shown measurable streamflow gains—for example, removing a 500 m × 50 m wattle strip increased flows by ~ 34 m³/day on the Sand River (Eastern Cape). WRC KV 123/99 .
• Context: Earlier national assessments estimated total invasive-plant water losses around ~3,300 million m³/year (≈7% of river flow), illustrating why invasive clearing restores water yield. WRC TT-99/98 .
• Legal & sourcing: Black Wattle is a Category 2 listed species ; certain restricted activities require permits—our firewood is sourced from legal, managed invasive-clearing operations and not indigenous forests. See regulatory details and Working for Water programme information.
• Burn performance & energy: Independent references report Black Wattle’s useful fuel properties—specific energy roughly 18–19.7 MJ/kg with low ash (~~1.5%), and good charcoal yield. World Agroforestry (ICRAF) species profile · PROSEA · combustion study .

Sustainability & Environmental Impact

• Avoids cutting protected forests; every order is a step towards restoring the Cape’s threatened wetlands and fynbos.
• All firewood is harvested according to government guidelines, ensuring a win-win for nature and your home fire.
• Creates jobs from harvesting right through to stacking in your yard.
• Because Black Wattle fixes nitrogen and regrows rapidly, it’s a renewable resource, unlike most slow-growing hardwoods used elsewhere.

When you burn Black Wattle, you’re supporting Cape Town biodiversity, saving water, and fuelling jobs—a cycle of real local impact.

Optimal Storage & Cape Town Burn Tips

• Use racks or bricks to store off the ground; never pile damp wood against a wall as it will leave marks.
• Ventilate and sun-cure bulk wood to reduce seasoning time by weeks.
• Keep woods well spaced and leave small gaps between pieces for enhanced airflow.
• Rotate new deliveries to the back or bottom of your wood storage area, keep seasoned wood infront or on the top ready for winter and regular fires.
• Keep a few bags indoors so you’re prepared for Cape Town’s famous late-night storms or spontaneous braais.
• Pair with Blue Gum for long burns, or Rooikrans for quick heat and flames.
• Best to invest in it during the Spring and Summer seasons for superior quality, stock pile and store for the colder Autumn and Winter seasons.

Good storage and a flexible burning strategy mean hotter, easier fires and the best return on every purchase.

Customer Reviews & True Cape Stories

“Delivered quicker than my usual supplier—dry, reddish tint, and stacks so sturdy. It always looks tidy too. Won’t use any other wood!”

“Cape Town storms hit? No problem. My Black Wattle bags are always ready, even when everywhere else is sold out.”

“I stock up in spring, store bulk loose in the wind, and my winter fires are legendary. So easy to burn and the coals last hours.”

“South African flavour, healthy forests, and perfectly honest prices. That’s why I stick with Black Wattle.”

Compare Black Wattle to Other Firewoods (Cape Town)

• Blue Gum: Denser, for all-night heat but slower to ignite, best suited to pizza ovens and keeping the home warm deep into the evening.
• Rooikrans: Fast, hot flames and Southern Cape DNA, perfect for “one match and a feast” braais.
• Namibian Hardwood: Great for those who want to blend and experiment—night-long fires, hybrid coal beds, and unique flavours.

Frequently Asked Questions About Black Wattle Firewood

Should I choose bagged or bulk Black Wattle?

If you want wood that burns straight away with no fuss, choose bags. For value and a hands-on approach, order bulk and finish the seasoning yourself.

Can I use Black Wattle indoors?

Yes—seasoned correctly, Black Wattle is low sap, low smoke, and leaves only a fine trace of ash. Ideal for enclosed fireplaces.

How does Black Wattle rate for sustainability?

It is considered the eco-friendliest firewood in South Africa today because it actively reverses local ecological harm instead of causing it.

What is the best time to order for Cape Town?

Early spring to late summer—stock up, season if bulk, and be ready well ahead of the winter rush.

Can I blend Black Wattle with other woods?

Yes—most Cape Town fire lovers mix a little Blue Gum or Rooikrans for specific burning profiles.

Can Business and Export customers get a moisture certificate?

Absolutely, just request one with your order, especially if importing.

Ready for the Best Black Wattle? Order from Cape Town’s Leading Firewood Authority

Order Bagged Black Wattle Firewood | Order Bulk Black Wattle

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