What Is DMT Found in Australia? A Comprehensive Guide
The question of what DMT is found in Australia leads to a surprising answer. It is present in the country’s national floral emblem. Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) occurs naturally in numerous species of Australian Acacia, commonly known as wattle . This discovery has significant implications for researchers, law enforcement, and anyone interested in the intersection of Australian flora and psychedelic science. Consequently, understanding the botanical sources, the scientific research, and the legal landscape is essential.
The Botanical Source: Australian Acacia (Wattle)
Australia’s native Acacia genus is one of the most widespread plant groups in the country. Western Australia alone is a centre of diversity, with 894 species naturally found across the state . The presence of DMT within these species is not uniform, however. Just as not all mushrooms are magic, not every wattle tree contains DMT .
Research has identified specific species that do contain the compound. A 2024 study screened 104 plant samples representing 79 Acacia species. The findings determined 51 DMT-containing species, 41 of which were previously unknown to contain the psychedelic . Some of the most well-known DMT-containing Acacia species include Acacia maidenii, Acacia obtusifolia, Acacia acuminata, and Acacia phlebophylla .
The concentration of DMT in wattle is relatively low. Wattle contains only 0.5–1.5% DMT . For Acacia maidenii, one source reports that it can contain up to 0.7% DMT and NMT, usually in younger trees . Another source notes 0.36% DMT was isolated from dry bark .
Beyond Acacia: Other Australian Sources
While Acacia is the most prominent source, DMT has been found in other Australian plants. Phalaris aquatica (also known as Harding grass) is an introduced species that contains DMT and 5-MeO-DMT. Research from 1971 found that some cultivars had 5-MeO-DMT as the major base . The alkaloid content in Phalaris varies widely depending on the time of year, with peak levels occurring in autumn .
The Scientific Research: Mapping Australia’s DMT Resources
Australian researchers are actively investigating the country’s DMT-containing flora. Dr Mitchell Low from NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University is leading a study testing 855 species of Australian wattle for their psychedelic properties, including DMT and other compounds that may be used for cutting-edge psychiatric therapies. The study is expected to take five years .
“Most of them haven’t been tested,” says Dr Low. “We know the morphology of the species, but the chemical composition is still unknown” . In some of the wattle samples tested so far, the DMT is more potent than the Amazonian plants traditionally associated with the compound and used to make ayahuasca .
Dr Kelly Shepherd, Senior Research Scientist at the WA Herbarium, has conducted a pilot study screening phyllodes from specimens of 148 different Acacia species. The research found that preserved herbarium specimens provided an adequate substitute to identify and characterise the presence of psychoactive substances .
The Clinical Application: Australian DMT in Research
The discovery of DMT in Australian wattle has led to groundbreaking clinical research. In a first-of-its-kind study published in Scientific Reports in November 2025, researchers from the University of Melbourne and the CSIRO developed a DMT-based formulation derived from wattle. The formulation was tested on nine healthy participants to assess its safety and psychoactive effect in a controlled environment .
“Participants reported effects that exceeded prior published psilocybin and LSD results,” said lead author Dr Daniel Perkins, head of the Psychedelics Research and Therapeutics Unit at the University of Melbourne. “Importantly, we also found strong associations between the intensity of that acute experience and persisting psychological benefit, including improved wellbeing and positive behavioural changes” .
The next step is a randomised controlled trial involving participants with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder .
The Law Enforcement Reality: Clandestine Extraction
The presence of DMT in Australian wattle has not gone unnoticed by those seeking to extract it illegally. The first law enforcement attendance at a DMT clandestine extraction laboratory in Western Australia occurred in 2008. Since then, the detection of this type of clandestine laboratory has steadily increased to the point where they are now the most frequently attended in WA .
DMT is typically extracted from the bark of locally occurring wattle trees through a relatively simple process, often achieved using improvised equipment . In 2008, forensic scientists from WA’s ChemCentre found wet bark stripped from a wattle tree at a clandestine lab .
The environmental impact is significant. “From a conservation angle, ringbarking trees kills them. Even before you get to extracting an A-class drug, damaging native flora is an offence in itself,” notes Dr Shepherd .
The Legal Status: Schedule 9 Prohibition
Despite its natural occurrence in Australian flora, DMT is a Schedule 9 prohibited substance under the Australian Poisons Standard. This classification makes its possession, use, manufacture, supply, and importation illegal across every state and territory .
In 2011, the Attorney-General’s Department released a discussion paper proposing legislative amendments that would expand the list of prohibited plants to include any plant containing DMT. Critics argued this could potentially criminalise hundreds of plant species, including the Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), the official botanical emblem of Australia. Following a review of submissions, the changes did not go ahead, and the Golden Wattle remains the national flower .
Conclusion
DMT is found throughout Australia’s natural landscape, most notably in the country’s iconic wattle trees. 51 Acacia species have been confirmed to contain DMT, with 41 of these discoveries made only recently . The concentration is relatively low at 0.5–1.5%, but this has not prevented clandestine extraction labs from becoming the most common type in Western Australia .
Australian researchers are actively exploring the therapeutic potential of these native compounds. Clinical trials using DMT derived from wattle have shown promising results, with participants reporting effects that exceeded psilocybin and LSD . However, the legal status of DMT remains firmly Schedule 9, and unauthorised extraction or possession carries severe penalties. The scientific exploration of Australia’s botanical riches continues, but it must do so within the boundaries of the law.