With many garden worthy species Brachychiton are often seen as a tall growing tree to over 30m. Although this is true of some of the species, many of the new cultivars and hybrids are much smaller growing than this.
Many of the recently released varieties will reach between 4 and 6m over 20 years, others up to 10m. The height will depend on the particular hybrid as well as the growing conditions. Some will grow a lot larger in warmer sub tropical climates than they will in the temperate zones.
Some species and cultivars are grown for the flowers, others for the wonderful trunks – Brachychiton are probably under used in landscaping in Australia
Brachychiton Varieties
The six most popular species are
- B. rupestris is the ‘Queensland Bottle Tree’ and B. acerfolius is the ‘Illawarra Flame Tree’ and are the best known species.
- B. acerifolius (Illawarra Flame Tree) is a slow growing drought tolerant tree with masses of pink to red flowers in Spring/Summer.
- B. populneus (Kurrajong Tree) is known as the ‘Lacebark kurrajong or White-flower kurrajong’
- B. Bella Donna
- B. Clara Belle
- B. Bidwillii is the ‘Little Kurrajong’
- Bella Pink – Small to medium sized tree with attractive pink flowers
- Jerilderie Red – To around 8m tall with red flowers.
- Griffith Pink – To around 10m tall with deeper pink flowers.
- B. australis or the ‘Broad-leaved bottletree’ or ‘Large-leaved kurrajong’
- B. vitifolius
- B. discolor or ‘Lacebark’ or Scrub bottle tree.
However another 28 other trees and shrubs are included with B. discolor being one species used in hybridisation.
A number of species in the Brachychiton genus are widely used in landscaping, most are well known by their common name.
They are adaptable, for example, the Queensland bottle tree can be grown in a pot however it will need to have the tap roots pruned to maintain a smaller size.
Care
Generally drought tolerant once established, depending on species and cultivar this is a tree that will grow from 4m – 30m.
If grown in full sun and a well drained position, once established they are generally undemanding. Widely used in street plantings many species make great shade trees.
Brachychiton are available for sale from the following nurseries
"Propagation and Production of Native and Exotic Trees
with Natural Root Systems from 2 to 2,000 lts."
www.njrivett.com.au
1750 Westernport Rd Heath Hill VIC 3981
Australias largest grower of semi advanced native and deciduous trees. .9 - 2.6mts high. Supplying councils, developers and landscapers. Includes Acacia implexa, acacia melanoxlylon.
www.dream-time.com.au
email ask@plantmark.com.au
One of Australia's largest wholesale trade nurseries. Over 30,000 species available, tubestock to advanced trees, an almost unlimited choice of plants.
www.plantmark.com.au