Brachychiton acerifolius – Illawarra Flame Tree

Description

Brachychiton acerifolius – Illawarra Flame Tree

Family: Malvaceae
Packet Size: 8 seeds

Description

Brachychiton acerifolius, the Illawarra Flame Tree, is one of Australia’s best-known native flowering trees. It is celebrated for an extraordinary display of coral-red to scarlet bell-shaped flowers, often appearing when the branches are nearly bare.

Large, maple-like leaves create summer shade, while the tree’s seasonal leaf drop can reveal a blaze of red flowers in late spring and summer. It is most suitable as a feature specimen where its eventual canopy and size can be accommodated.

Key Features

• Flowers: Showy clusters of vivid coral-red to scarlet, bell-shaped blooms.
• Foliage: Large, often lobed green leaves, with seasonal leaf drop before flowering.
• Habit: Medium to large Australian native tree that can become very tall in favourable conditions.
• Garden uses: Landmark specimen tree, shade and seasonal flower display on larger sites.

Growing Conditions

• Position: Full sun to light shade, with plenty of room for the developing canopy.
• Soil: Adaptable to a range of reasonably well-drained garden soils.
• Watering: Water while establishing; mature trees can withstand periods of dryness.
• Climate: Well suited to warm-temperate and subtropical conditions, with young plants protected from hard frost.
• Maintenance: Allow room away from buildings and hard paving, and account for fallen flowers and seed pods.

Seed Propagation

• Prepare: No special seed pretreatment is usually required once the seeds are clean and free of pod hairs.
• Sow: Place seeds about 5–10 mm deep in a moist, free-draining seed-raising mix.
• Position: Keep in warm, bright, sheltered conditions; protect young seedlings from intense sun.
• Moisture: Water gently, keeping the medium lightly moist without allowing it to become saturated.
• Germination: Germination is usually straightforward with viable seed in warm conditions, but timing varies.
• Transplant: Pot on when seedlings have established true leaves and a well-developed root system.

Growing Note: Flowering from seed can take several years. The tree may lose some or most of its leaves immediately before its spectacular flowering display.