Spring is a common time to see Brachychiton blooming, however not all varieties flower every year, so sometimes their display is a pleasant surprise following years of quietude.

The Brachychiton bidwilli or Little Kurrajong is one of my favourite trees. It ticks all the boxes for my garden:

• it’s hardy
• it is very well mannered, doesn’t take up much space or get in the way of other plants
• it’s a good feature alone, or mixed with either natives or exotics
• it’s a delight in flower particularly if the tree has defoliated
• the long lasting flowers are not easily spoilt by rain, wind or heat
• it’s easily pruned to shape
• and the possums and wallabies leave it alone

The Brachychiton name is usually attached to the Flame tree Brachychiton acerifolium, or the Bottle tree, Brachychiton repestris but the baby of the family is Brachychiton bidwilli and it is worth considering as a small tree for the garden.

This tree is naturally occuring over wide areas of Queensland, usually in sunny situations or not too far inside open hardwood forests, according to Keith Williams, author of “Native Plants Queensland”.

Its growth can be variable  – two to six metres – often looking more like a large shrub in tough situations. Flower colour of the seed-raised trees is also variable, ranging from orangey pink, to hot pink with yellow stamens.

The unusual feature of the flowers is that they appear along the trunks,stems and branches of the tree. They’re great for attracting birds into the garden and are usually, but not always, deciduous while flowering. Unlike the larger leaved Brachychitons, when the leaves of the Little Kurrajong fall, they are not too untidy.

The seed pods are also a feature, lasting on the tree for some time. Plants readily grow from seed, (if you can beat the birds to it!) available when the hard pod breaks open. 

 

MJK