[2] Acacia denticulosa was first formally described in 1876 by Victorian Government Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller based on plant material collected from the vicinity of Mount Churchman by Jess Young.

[7] Sandpaper wattle is found in eight scattered populations over a range of 180 km (110 mi) in the Merredin district in the Western Australian Wheatbelt northeast of Perth, over an area roughly bounded by Nungarin in the south, Wongan Hills in the west and east of Mount Churchman in the east.

[1] It generally grows on or near granite outcrops, and occasionally on sandplains, or a range of soils such as silt, clay, loam or sand.

[1] Key threats include continuing land clearance in its vicinity, altered hydrology and extended drought.

Local invasive weeds that may directly impact on it include bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides), saffron thistle (Carthamus lanatus) and cape tulip (Moraea flaccida).