This fragrant shrub or small tree is Sweet Acacia, Vachellia farnesiana.

It is easily recognized by its finely divided leaves, sharp paired thorns, and round golden-yellow flower heads. Each flower head is made up of many tiny flowers packed closely together.

The blossoms have a rich, sweet fragrance that can be noticeable from some distance away. They attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, and the flowers have also been used in traditional perfumery.

After flowering, the tree produces dark, curved seedpods containing several hard seeds.

Sweet Acacia is native to tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas but is now found in warm regions around the world. It tolerates heat, drought, wind, and poor soil extremely well.

Its thorns make it useful as a living barrier, while its flowers provide nectar and pollen during dry periods when fewer plants may be blooming.

The plant was formerly known as Acacia farnesiana, but botanists now generally place it in the genus Vachellia.

It is a tough, sometimes untidy plant, but when its golden flowers fill the air with fragrance, the reason for the name Sweet Acacia becomes immediately clear.