The acacia catechu tree grows to approximately 50 feet tall and has dark bark that peels off in strips. The branches are slender with prickles at the base. The flowers are long spikes, and the fruit is a strap-shaped pod.
The species grows in many different types of soil, most commonly sandy, loam and clay. It is capable of growing in shallow soil as well, according to the World Agroforestry Centre.
Leaves and flowers develop beginning in late April and early May and continue to bloom through July or August. The pods develop quickly and become full size by the end of September or early October.