Red-eyed wattle is a coastal species. Close to the ocean, it adopts a broad, dome shape for protection against salt and sand. Further away from the coast, when sheltered by tuart trees, it grows more upright, and up to 7 m tall. Seed pods open in late spring and early summer, revealing shiny black seeds surrounded by orange-red stalks. The seeds are highly visible to birds which eat and disperse them. The empty pods are retained for a long time, making the species easy to recognise. Flowers occur over a long interval from early spring to late summer.
Ref: “Leaf and branch: trees and tall shrubs of Perth” by Robert Powell. Published by the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation, 2009.