(Sweet Acacia / Vachellia farnesiana)
Sweet acacia is a thorny shrub or small tree native to parts of the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. While native in some regions, it can behave invasively outside its historical range, particularly in disturbed sites, rangelands, and roadsides. It reproduces readily by seed and forms dense, thorny thickets that displace native vegetation and restrict access for wildlife and livestock. Its invasive status varies by region, and it is considered weedy or invasive in parts of the southern U.S. and Hawaii.