This bushy domeshaped shrub grows to 1 to 4 metres in height. Flowers are orange to yellow with globular heads and appear mainly in spring. The wattle grows mostly on sandhills, where it acts as an important soil stabiliser. - During periods of high rabbit densities the bottom 45cm is largely defoliated by these herbivores, giving rise to its other common name the "Umbrella Wattle". Aboriginals utilised ash, seeds and gum from this species. It readily germinates in disturbed soils and is Australia's most widely distributed wattle.

Distribution of the Sandhill wattle in Australia.