From ornamentals and rehabilitators to resources and invaders, Australian Acacia species (‘wattles’) have assumed diverse roles over time in the varied landscapes to which they have been introduced. The reception of these species – linked to how they are used, peoples’ perceptions about the trees’ and shrubs’ place in particular a landscape, and the environmental and socio-economic context – changes over time. In a context where wattles are sometimes important economic resources, sometimes subject to concerns over invasion, and where the climate emergency leads to pushes for rapid tree planting, the question is raised of how the place of wattles in human landscapes may evolve into the future. We sought to identify recent trends in how wattles are welcomed (or not), used (or not) and managed (or not) by people around the world. A conceptual model is proposed to understand how and why wattles are adopted and perceived differently in different places; this highlights moments of large, rapid, irreversible and systemic change, or regime shifts. We undertook a limited global online survey involving 72 respondents with knowledge on different wattle landscapes. Respondents were asked about changes in wattle extent, use, impact, perception and management over the past 10–15 years. We found that wat- tle social-ecological systems are dynamic: respondents reported more change than stability. They noted more wattle expansion than shrinkage; a number of increased uses; mostly amplifications (and some reductions) of previously reported impacts, both good and bad; generally increased awareness of invasions; and they commented on a number of management efforts both for forestry and for invasion control. Some changes are major and irreversible, such as the conversion over two decades of at least 6% of Vietnam’s land area to wattle plantations and accompanying institutional, economic, social and ecological shifts. Others are more incremental and perhaps reversible, such as public perception of environmental risks linked to wattles. Trends are different across the main regions reported on, namely South Africa, Europe and South-East Asia.