Most loved for its unique swollen trunk that stores water, dense rounded canopy of glossy green foliage, and resilience in hot, dry conditions that makes it a striking landscape feature.
Approximate only. Minimum height important? Confirm with us.
Height guide & disclaimer
Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you must confirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.
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Brachychiton rupestris, the Queensland Bottle Tree, is one of the most distinctive trees in cultivation, instantly recognised by its dramatically swollen bottle-shaped trunk. The trunk stores water, giving the tree exceptional drought tolerance and a bold sculptural presence.
Bottle Tree grows slowly to 10-15 metres tall and 5-8 metres wide, with the characteristic trunk swelling developing gradually over many years. The narrow deep green leaves and upright open canopy contrast beautifully with the broad trunk, suiting feature positions in dry-climate gardens, civic landscapes, and rural properties.
Bottle Tree is extremely drought tolerant once established and thrives across QLD, NSW, VIC and SA in full sun with well-drained soil. Its non-aggressive habit makes it safe to use near paving and structures. Clusters of yellow-green bell-shaped flowers appear in early summer.
About Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree
Brachychiton rupestris grows to 10-15 metres tall and 5-8 metres wide, with the distinctive swollen bottle-shaped trunk developing over many years.
The Bottle Tree is slow to moderate growing, adding 20-40cm per year. The characteristic trunk swelling develops gradually with age.
The thick bottle-shaped trunk acts as a water reservoir, storing moisture that allows the tree to survive extended dry periods. This adaptation makes it exceptionally drought hardy.
Yes. Brachychiton rupestris is native to inland Queensland, where it is an iconic feature of the dry landscape.
Yes. The Bottle Tree is a striking sculptural feature tree for gardens, courtyards, and urban landscapes, and its non-aggressive habit makes it suitable near paving and structures.
Yes. The Bottle Tree is extremely drought tolerant once established thanks to its water-storing trunk, and thrives in hot dry climates with minimal water.
The Bottle Tree thrives across most of Australia, particularly in QLD, NSW, VIC and SA. It tolerates frost once established and prefers full sun with well-drained soil.
| Pot / bag size | Width | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| 30cm Pot | 33cm | 30cm |
| 40cm/45L Pot | 44cm | 41.5cm |
| 50cm Pot / 70L Pot | 55cm | 41.8cm |
| 100L Bag | 50.6cm | 52.8cm |
| 150L Bag | 66cm | 55cm |
| 200L Bag | 71.5cm | 60.5cm |
| 300L Bag | 88cm | 63.8cm |
| 400L Bag | 99cm | 66cm |
| 500L Bag | 122cm | 66cm |
| 750L Bag | 134cm | 69cm |
| 1000L Bag | 146.3cm | 71.5cm |
| 2000L Bag | 176cm | 82.5cm |
General planting reference from our existing size guide. Actual containers can vary by supplier and batch; confirm exact dimensions if required.
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Brachychiton rupestris, the Queensland Bottle Tree, is one of the most distinctive trees in cultivation, instantly recognised by its dramatically swollen bottle-shaped trunk. The trunk stores water, giving the tree exceptional drought tolerance and a bold sculptural presence.
Bottle Tree grows slowly to 10-15 metres tall and 5-8 metres wide, with the characteristic trunk swelling developing gradually over many years. The narrow deep green leaves and upright open canopy contrast beautifully with the broad trunk, suiting feature positions in dry-climate gardens, civic landscapes, and rural properties.
Bottle Tree is extremely drought tolerant once established and thrives across QLD, NSW, VIC and SA in full sun with well-drained soil. Its non-aggressive habit makes it safe to use near paving and structures. Clusters of yellow-green bell-shaped flowers appear in early summer.
About Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree
Brachychiton rupestris grows to 10-15 metres tall and 5-8 metres wide, with the distinctive swollen bottle-shaped trunk developing over many years.
The Bottle Tree is slow to moderate growing, adding 20-40cm per year. The characteristic trunk swelling develops gradually with age.
The thick bottle-shaped trunk acts as a water reservoir, storing moisture that allows the tree to survive extended dry periods. This adaptation makes it exceptionally drought hardy.
Yes. Brachychiton rupestris is native to inland Queensland, where it is an iconic feature of the dry landscape.
Yes. The Bottle Tree is a striking sculptural feature tree for gardens, courtyards, and urban landscapes, and its non-aggressive habit makes it suitable near paving and structures.
Yes. The Bottle Tree is extremely drought tolerant once established thanks to its water-storing trunk, and thrives in hot dry climates with minimal water.
The Bottle Tree thrives across most of Australia, particularly in QLD, NSW, VIC and SA. It tolerates frost once established and prefers full sun with well-drained soil.
Evergreen (foliage year round)
Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (approx.).
Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree works in an:
Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree
Mature Height: 10m to 20m (approx.)
Mature Width: 4m to 6m
Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (approx.).
Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (approx.).
They are considered to have a:
Is Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree frost tolerant?
Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.
Brachychiton rupestris produces clusters of small, creamy-white to pale-yellow bell-shaped flowers in summer. While more modest than some hybrids, these blooms create a soft seasonal highlight before developing into woody seed pods.
Does Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree flower?
Flowering Period:
Flower Type:
Flower Colour:
Cream
Yes
Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree is Native to Native to central and southern Queensland, where it grows naturally in semi-arid woodlands and grasslands.
Its flowers attract native bees, butterflies and beneficial insects, while the dense canopy and thick trunk provide shelter for small birds and wildlife. The woody seed pods also support insects and seed-eating species, contributing to a resilient and biodiverse ecosystem.
Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree will thrive best in:
Brachychiton rupestris performs best in well-drained sandy or loam soils and tolerates slightly acidic to slightly alkaline conditions. It can become stressed in heavy clay or poorly drained soil unless improved with organic matter and coarse material to enhance drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then transition to deep, occasional watering as the tree matures and develops outstanding drought resilience.
Is Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree Drought tolerant?
As a young tree it benefits from regular watering, but once established Brachychiton rupestris develops exceptional drought tolerance. Its distinctive swollen trunk stores water, enabling it to thrive in hot, arid and low-maintenance landscapes with minimal supplementary watering.
Brachychiton rupestris grows to 10-15 metres tall and 5-8 metres wide, with the distinctive swollen bottle-shaped trunk developing over many years.
The Bottle Tree is slow to moderate growing, adding 20-40cm per year. The characteristic trunk swelling develops gradually with age.
The thick bottle-shaped trunk acts as a water reservoir, storing moisture that allows the tree to survive extended dry periods. This adaptation makes it exceptionally drought hardy.
Yes. Brachychiton rupestris is native to inland Queensland, where it is an iconic feature of the dry landscape.
Yes. The Bottle Tree is extremely drought tolerant once established thanks to its water-storing trunk, and thrives in hot dry climates with minimal water.
Yes. The Bottle Tree is a striking sculptural feature tree for gardens, courtyards, and urban landscapes, and its non-aggressive habit makes it suitable near paving and structures.
The Bottle Tree thrives across most of Australia, particularly in QLD, NSW, VIC and SA. It tolerates frost once established and prefers full sun with well-drained soil.
Approx. 0.8m – 2.0m
Approx. 1.2m – 3.0m
Enquire for current heights
Approx. 2.0m – 2.5m
Enquire for current heights
Enquire for current heights
Enquire for current heights
Enquire for current heights
Enquire for current heights
Heights are approximate and vary between individual trees.
We take pride in supplying A+ grade advanced trees. When stock at our farm is not yet ready, we work with our trusted trade suppliers to source the best available trees for your garden.
Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.
Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.
Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.
About Enriched Planting Mix
It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.
It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.
No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.
Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.
Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.
It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.
Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.
Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.
Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.
Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.
About Enriched Planting Mix
It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.
It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.
No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.
Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.
Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.
It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.
Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.
Acmena smithii 'Sublime' is a compact evergreen lilly pilly with vivid lime-green new growth that matures to deep glossy green. Its naturally upright columnar habit delivers dense coverage from base to tip, making it one of the cleanest, lowest-maintenance screening plants available.
Sublime grows to around 5 metres tall and just 2-3 metres wide, holding a tight column with minimal pruning. The narrow form suits tight boundary lines, pool surrounds, and structured hedges. A non-invasive root system and strong psyllid resistance make it a reliable, well-behaved alternative to more vigorous screening species.
Sublime tolerates clay soils, light frost, and moderate drought once established. It thrives across temperate to subtropical regions of NSW, QLD, VIC and parts of SA and WA, in full sun to part shade.
About Acmena smithii 'Sublime' Lilly Pilly
Sublime grows to around 5 metres tall and just 2-3 metres wide, with a naturally upright columnar form.
Sublime is fast-growing, adding 50-80cm per year once established.
Yes. Acmena smithii 'Sublime' has strong psyllid resistance, so it holds clean, unblemished foliage where older lilly pilly types can suffer pimple-like leaf damage.
Yes. The dense columnar habit makes Sublime ideal for narrow hedges, screens, and pool surrounds where clean form is needed.
No. Sublime has a non-invasive root system, making it a safer choice near paving, pools, and boundaries than more vigorous screening species.
Plant 60-80cm apart for a dense formal hedge, or 1 metre for a more relaxed screen.
Sublime thrives across temperate to subtropical regions of NSW, QLD, VIC and parts of SA and WA, tolerating clay soils, light frost, and moderate drought once established.
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Oriental Pearl' is one of the best compact evergreen shrubs available for low hedges and borders. The glossy dark green foliage forms a naturally tidy rounded mound, and clusters of soft white to pale pink flowers appear from late winter into spring, followed by small dark berries.
Oriental Pearl grows to just 1-1.5 metres tall and wide, holding a neat uniform shape with minimal pruning. The compact form makes it ideal for low clipped hedges, narrow borders, mass plantings, and container planting, particularly where space is limited and a formal finish is wanted.
Oriental Pearl thrives across most Australian climates in full sun to part shade, tolerating heat, coastal exposure, salt spray, light frost, and a wide range of well-drained soils. It is both drought tolerant and salt tolerant once established, making it a reliable low-maintenance choice for coastal and low-water gardens.
About Rhaphiolepis indica 'Oriental Pearl'
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Oriental Pearl' grows to 1-1.5 metres tall and wide, forming a naturally compact dense mound.
Oriental Pearl has a moderate growth rate of 20-40cm per year once established.
Yes. Oriental Pearl is one of the best compact evergreen shrubs for low hedges, borders, and mass plantings, holding a tidy rounded form with minimal pruning.
Oriental Pearl produces clusters of soft white to pale pink flowers from late winter into spring, followed by small dark berries.
Yes. Oriental Pearl is both drought tolerant and salt tolerant once established, making it well suited to coastal gardens and low-water landscapes.
Plant 50-70cm apart for a continuous low hedge, or 80cm-1 metre for a softer informal border.
Oriental Pearl thrives across most Australian climates in full sun to part shade, tolerating heat, coastal exposure, and a wide range of well-drained soils.
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Sheen' carries small shimmering silver-green leaves on near-black stems, giving a light airy screen that moves in the wind rather than reading as a solid green wall. It is one of the most widely specified screening plants in Australian landscape design for exactly that reason.
'Silver Sheen' grows to 4 to 6 metres tall but only 1.5 to 2 metres wide at 30 to 60 centimetres per year, which makes it a genuine solution for narrow beds along fence lines and between buildings where height is needed but width is not available. Small cream flowers appear in spring and are lightly fragrant.
'Silver Sheen' grows in full sun to part shade and tolerates light to moderate frost once established, performing from subtropical Queensland through Sydney, Melbourne, Gippsland and Adelaide. It clips well, holds density under regular trimming, and is equally effective as a formal hedge or a loose screen.
About Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Sheen'
'Silver Sheen' grows to 4 to 6 metres tall and only 1.5 to 2 metres wide, which makes it one of the best options for narrow screening where a tall hedge is needed in a shallow bed.
It grows at 30 to 60 centimetres per year once established, reaching a usable screening height within three to four years with regular water and feeding.
It naturally holds to 1.5 to 2 metres wide and can be trimmed to under a metre with regular clipping, which is why it is so often used in tight side-boundary positions.
Plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge. Closer spacing fills in faster but needs more trimming.
'Silver Sheen' handles light to moderate frost once established. Young plants benefit from protection through their first winter in colder inland districts.
Yes. It performs in full sun through to part shade. In shadier positions growth is slightly more open, which suits a softer informal screen.
It performs from subtropical Queensland through Northern NSW, Sydney, the South Coast and tablelands, Melbourne and surrounds, the Western District, Gippsland and Adelaide.
Buxus microphylla var. japonica, sold as Japanese Box, is a dense evergreen shrub clipped here into clean topiary balls. The small, rounded, mid green leaves sit tightly along short stems, so the surface holds a crisp edge after cutting. Growth is naturally compact, which is what allows the ball shape to hold between trims.
It grows in full sun to part shade and accepts most soils that drain, from sandy loam through to improved clay. Cool temperate, temperate and subtropical districts all suit it, and established plants handle light to moderate frost. Growth runs about 15 to 25 centimetres a year, slow enough that the shape stays where you put it.
Balls are used to edge beds and paths, mark an entry, sit either side of a doorway, or repeat down a courtyard to give a planting rhythm. They also underplant feature trees neatly. Because the form arrives already grown, a bed reads finished from the day it goes in rather than years later.
About Japanese Box Topiary Balls
It is Buxus microphylla var. japonica grown on and clipped into a sphere. The plant does the same job as any box shrub, evergreen, small leaved and tolerant of cutting, but it arrives already shaped. Ball diameters run from around 30 centimetres up to large advanced specimens, and the shape is then held with two trims a year.
The ball is held at whatever diameter it is clipped to, commonly 30 to 70 centimetres, with larger specimens available in bigger containers. In the ground, overall height sits close to the ball diameter. Left entirely unclipped the species would slowly reach roughly 1.5 to 2 metres tall and wide over many years.
About 15 to 25 centimetres a year, which is slow to moderate. That pace is an advantage in topiary because the outline drifts gradually rather than running away between cuts. Two trims a year, one in early spring and one in late summer, are usually enough to keep the surface tight and the profile even.
Full sun to part shade both work. Full sun gives the densest, tightest surface, which matters when the appeal of the plant is a clean clipped edge. In hot inland gardens some afternoon shade prevents leaf scorch and bronzing. Deep shade thins the growth out and the ball loses its crisp outline.
Yes. Established plants handle light to moderate frost without damage, which covers most temperate and cool temperate gardens including Canberra, Melbourne and the southern tablelands. Newly planted stock is more exposed, so water it well going into winter and mulch the root zone. Any frost burnt tips can simply be trimmed off in spring.
Yes, they are one of the better plants for a container. A pot 40 to 50 centimetres wide suits a single ball for a courtyard, entry or balcony. Use a quality potting mix, water once the top few centimetres dry out, and feed in spring and again in summer. Repot or refresh the mix every few years.
Trim twice a year with sharp shears, cutting lightly and often rather than hard. Feed in early spring with a slow release fertiliser and keep water up through summer. Mulch to about 50 millimetres, keeping it clear of the stem. Watch for box psyllid on soft new growth and treat early if the tips start to cup.
Buxus sempervirens English Box Topiary Balls are pre-clipped formal evergreen specimens, available in three mature sizes and ready to place. The tight, fine, dark green foliage holds a precise rounded form year-round and gives the classic formal topiary look that no other Buxus replicates. As one of our most consistently strong-selling products, our English Box topiary balls are well-shaped, well-rooted, and arrive in proportion to the pot size.
English Box performs best in cool to temperate climates and is slow growing at around 15 to 25 cm per year in good conditions, which is exactly why it holds sharp formal shapes so well. It thrives in full sun to part shade with well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral loamy soil, and is frost hardy, drought tolerant once established, and excellent in containers. Two light clips per year, in spring and again in late summer, keep the ball form crisp.
Use them flanking entrances, lining formal pathways, anchoring symmetrical garden beds, defining parterre and knot gardens, and in pairs in classic urns and decorative pots at front doors. Buxus sempervirens is the original topiary plant and remains the benchmark for traditional and contemporary formal design, with a level of finesse and density that fast-growing alternatives cannot replicate.
About Buxus sempervirens English Box Topiary Balls
Our English Box topiary balls arrive pre-clipped and ready to place at the size you order. The 30cm/33cm pots have ball diameters of approximately 30 to 45 cm, the 40cm/45L pots have ball diameters of 40 to 55 cm, and the 50cm/75L pots have ball diameters of 50 to 70 cm. They are well-rooted and in proportion to the pot.
English Box is slow-growing, adding approximately 15 to 25 cm per year once established in good conditions. This slow growth rate is one of the reasons it holds sharp formal shapes so well, and why mature pre-clipped specimens command a premium over seedling-grown stock.
English Box (Buxus sempervirens) has the smallest, finest leaves and the tightest formal texture, ideal for traditional parterres and clipped balls. Japanese Box (Buxus microphylla japonica) has slightly larger leaves, grows faster, and handles heat better. Shaggy Box (Buxus bodinieri) has soft, rounded leaves, much better blight resistance, and is the best choice for humid subtropical climates where English Box can struggle.
English Box performs best in cool to temperate regions including Victoria, the ACT, the NSW Southern Highlands and Central Tablelands, Tasmania, and the elevated parts of South Australia and Western Australia. In humid coastal or hot subtropical regions, consider Buxus bodinieri Shaggy Box or Japanese Box instead for better long-term performance.
Lightly clip in spring and again in late summer or early autumn to maintain the ball shape. Avoid pruning in the heat of summer or during frost periods. Use sharp shears for the cleanest formal finish, and step back regularly to check the symmetry of the form.
Yes. English Box is the classic potted topiary plant and pre-clipped balls look particularly striking in pairs at entrances and on terraces. Use a minimum 30L pot for the 30cm/33cm size and scale up from there, with a quality potting mix and a slow-release fertiliser applied twice yearly.
English Box can be affected by box blight, particularly in humid conditions where foliage stays wet. To reduce risk, ensure good air circulation around each plant, avoid overhead watering, and prune to maintain airflow through the canopy. In high-humidity regions, Buxus bodinieri Shaggy Box is a more disease-resistant alternative.
Ligularia reniformis carries enormous glossy kidney-shaped leaves that give a shaded garden the bold tropical texture usually only available in full sun. The Tractor Seat Plant is grown for foliage first, with tall stems of bright yellow daisy flowers through summer as a bonus.
Ligularia reniformis forms a clump 0.6 to 1 metre tall and 1 to 1.5 metres wide, spreading slowly at 10 to 20 centimetres per year. That steady habit makes it reliable as a mass underplanting beneath established trees, an edging along a shaded path, or a single specimen in a large pot.
This is a full shade plant. It wants consistent moisture and protection from hot afternoon sun, which scorches the leaves, and it is frost sensitive, so in cold districts it needs a protected position. Given shade and water it is close to maintenance free.
About Ligularia reniformis
It forms a clump 0.6 to 1 metre tall and 1 to 1.5 metres wide. The individual leaves can reach 40 centimetres across, which is where the bold texture comes from.
The common name comes from the large round kidney-shaped leaves, which resemble the seat of an old tractor. The botanical name reniformis means kidney-shaped.
Yes. It performs best in full shade and will scorch in hot afternoon sun. It is one of the most useful foliage plants available for genuinely dark positions.
Tall stems of bright yellow daisy-like flowers rise well above the foliage through summer. The foliage remains the main feature for the rest of the year.
No. It is frost sensitive and may be damaged by frost. In cold districts plant it in a protected position, or grow it in a pot that can be moved under cover.
It wants consistently moist soil and does not tolerate drying out. Mulch well and water regularly through summer, particularly in pots and under established trees where roots compete.
Plant 0.8 to 1 metre apart for a continuous shaded groundcover mass. Closer spacing fills in faster but the clumps will crowd within a few seasons.
Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Balls' is Star Jasmine grown and clipped into a dense evergreen sphere. The small glossy leaves sit tight on a woody framework, holding a clean rounded outline year round. White pinwheel flowers open in spring and carry a strong sweet scent right across a courtyard.
Ball specimens hold at about 1 to 1.5 metres tall and wide with light clipping. Full sun to part shade suits them, in any free draining soil. Growth is slow to moderate at 30 to 50 centimetres a year. They handle coastal exposure, light frost and dry spells once the roots are down.
Repeat them along a driveway, either side of an entry, or in pots on a terrace where a formal shape is wanted straight away. They read as structure in a planting scheme without the height of a hedge, and because the form is already trained, a new garden looks settled from the day it goes in.
About Star Jasmine Balls
They are Trachelospermum jasminoides, the common Star Jasmine, grown and clipped into a dense evergreen sphere on a woody framework. Instead of climbing, the plant is trained into a self supporting rounded shape. The foliage is small, glossy and dark green, and the plant carries scented white flowers through spring.
They hold at roughly 1 to 1.5 metres tall and 1 to 1.5 metres wide. Growth is slow to moderate at 30 to 50 centimetres a year, so a light clip once or twice a year keeps the ball tight at whatever size within that range suits the setting.
Full sun to part shade both work. Full sun gives the densest foliage and the heaviest flowering, while part shade produces slightly softer, more open growth and fewer flowers. Avoid deep shade, where the ball thins out and loses its outline. Morning sun with afternoon protection suits hot inland gardens.
Yes, and pots are one of the main uses. A container 50 to 60 centimetres wide with a quality free draining mix will hold a ball for years. Water more often than you would in the ground, especially in summer, and feed in spring and again in late summer. Refresh the mix every few years.
Yes, the foliage is held year round. The glossy dark green leaves take on a bronze tinge in cold weather and green up again in spring, but the plant never goes bare. That is what makes it useful as permanent structure in a scheme, particularly in winter once perennials have died back.
Flowering runs through spring, roughly September to November, and often carries into early summer in warmer districts. The white pinwheel flowers are small but produced in quantity, and the scent is strong on still evenings. Flowering is heaviest on plants in full sun that were not clipped hard just before bud set.
Clip lightly with hedging shears once after flowering and again in late summer if needed, taking only the new growth to keep the outline crisp. Water deeply in dry weather, mulch the base, and feed in early spring. The sap is milky and can irritate skin, so wear gloves when trimming.
Brachychiton populneus stores water in a thickened bottle-shaped trunk, which is why the Kurrajong stands green through droughts that strip everything around it. Graziers have relied on it as emergency stock fodder for generations, and it is one of the toughest shade trees in the country.
Brachychiton populneus grows to 10 to 20 metres tall and 5 to 10 metres wide at 30 to 60 centimetres per year, forming a dense conical to rounded canopy of glossy dark green foliage. Cream bell-shaped flowers appear through spring and summer, followed by woody boat-shaped seed pods.
This Australian native is frost hardy, surviving heavy and frequent frost without damage, and tolerates extreme heat, drought and poor shallow soils. It grows in full sun and is widely used for shade, avenue and streetscape planting in hot inland districts.
About Brachychiton populneus
Brachychiton populneus reaches 10 to 20 metres tall and 5 to 10 metres wide, forming a dense conical to rounded canopy. It suits acreage, parkland, streets and larger gardens.
The Kurrajong stores water in its thickened trunk, an adaptation that lets it survive extended drought. Older trees develop a pronounced bottle shape, which is where the common name comes from.
Exceptionally. It is among the most drought and heat tolerant trees available in Australia and stays green through conditions that defoliate most other species.
Yes. It is native to eastern Australia from Queensland through New South Wales into Victoria, and is a familiar sight across inland grazing country.
Yes. It survives heavy and frequent frost without damage, and equally tolerates extreme summer heat, which makes it unusually adaptable.
It sheds woody boat-shaped seed pods after flowering. The pods contain irritant hairs around the seeds, so they are best swept up rather than handled bare-handed.
Plant 6 to 8 metres apart for an avenue, or 8 to 10 metres apart as individual shade trees so each canopy can develop fully.
Brachychiton populneus x acerifolius 'Bella Donna' crosses the Kurrajong with the Illawarra Flame Tree, producing a slender upright tree carrying dense lobed foliage. Through late spring and summer it hangs clusters of pink bell shaped flowers along the branches. Unlike its flame tree parent it holds its leaves through the flowering period in most gardens.
Full sun brings the best flowering, and the tree accepts clay, loam or sandy ground provided water moves through it. Once settled in it takes light to moderate frost and long dry spells, inheriting the toughness of the Kurrajong side of the cross. Growth runs about 50 to 80 centimetres a year with very little intervention.
The narrow habit suits nature strips, driveways, courtyards and townhouse gardens where a full sized flame tree would crowd the space. Councils plant it for streets and avenues at roughly 3 metres apart, or 3 to 4 metres for individual specimens. It gives flowering colour without the canopy width of either parent.
About Bella Donna Brachychiton
It is a named hybrid between Brachychiton populneus, the Kurrajong, and Brachychiton acerifolius, the Illawarra Flame Tree. The cross keeps the drought hardiness and neat upright form of the Kurrajong while adding the pink to red bell flowers of the flame tree. It is an Australian native selection grown for street and feature planting.
Expect 6 to 8 metres in height with a canopy 3 to 4 metres across in most Australian gardens, which is roughly a third of the size of a mature Illawarra Flame Tree. The habit stays upright and fairly narrow, so it fits verges and side boundaries where a broad crowned tree would not.
Height gain is around 50 to 80 centimetres a year once the tree is away, which is steady rather than rapid. Growth is quickest in the first few years on a well prepared site with regular water, then slows as the canopy fills out. Advanced stock shortens the wait to a useful size considerably.
Flowering runs through spring and summer, with the heaviest flush from late spring onwards, roughly November into January. The bell shaped blooms are pink through to soft red and are carried in clusters along the branches. Warm dry spring weather produces a stronger display, and trees usually flower from a young age.
Yes. The Kurrajong parentage gives it a deep root system and a genuine tolerance of dry conditions once established, which is why it is used widely in inland and western districts. It still needs regular water through the first two summers. After that, occasional deep soakings in a long dry summer are all it asks for.
For a uniform avenue or street row, plant at 3 metres apart so the canopies meet and read as a continuous line. Where each tree should stand as a separate specimen, allow 3 to 4 metres so the full form can develop. Keep trees a few metres clear of kerbs, footings and underground services.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first two summers, then taper off. Mulch the root zone but keep mulch away from the trunk collar. Prune only for shape or to remove crossing branches, ideally in late winter before the new season starts. A slow release native fertiliser in early spring supports flowering.
Brachychiton populneus x discolor 'Griffiths Pink' crosses the Kurrajong with the Lacebark, giving an upright tree with a rounded crown, lobed green leaves and a pale, softly textured trunk. Soft pink bell flowers open in large numbers from late spring through to mid summer and cover the outer branches.
Full sun and free draining soil suit it, and it performs across warm temperate, subtropical and semi arid districts. Light to moderate frost is handled once the tree is established, as are extended dry periods. Growth is steady at roughly 50 to 70 centimetres a year and maintenance requirements stay low.
Group plantings give a layered flowering effect through parks and open lawns, while single trees lift structured garden beds and civic forecourts. Allow about 3 metres between trees for avenue work and 3 to 4 metres for specimens. Buyers get lacebark flower quality on a frame tough enough for exposed, low water sites.
About Griffiths Pink Brachychiton
It is a hybrid between Brachychiton populneus, the Kurrajong, and Brachychiton discolor, the Lacebark or Queensland Lacebark. The cross carries the soft pink bell flowers of the lacebark on a tougher, more drought hardy frame. It is an Australian native cultivar used for feature, street and parkland planting across a wide climate range.
It typically reaches 8 to 10 metres tall with a canopy 4 to 5 metres across, which makes it a medium tree with genuine shade value. It is larger than the Bella Pink and Bella Donna hybrids, so give it room in a lawn, verge or park rather than a small courtyard.
Growth runs at roughly 50 to 70 centimetres of height a year in reasonable ground, which is moderate for a tree of this size. The first three or four years are the quickest, particularly with good soil preparation and regular water. After that the tree puts more energy into canopy width and trunk thickness.
The main display runs from late spring into mid summer, broadly November through to January. Soft pink bells open across the outer canopy in large numbers, often over several weeks. Warm dry conditions in the lead up produce the heaviest flowering, and the display improves noticeably as the tree matures.
It suits warm temperate, subtropical and semi arid regions, covering coastal and inland New South Wales, south east Queensland, northern Victoria, South Australia and much of Western Australia. Hot, dry and exposed sites are handled well. The main limitation is cold, wet ground, where drainage rather than temperature causes the trouble.
Not once it is established. Regular deep watering is important through the first two summers while the root system develops, after which the tree carries itself through dry seasons with only occasional deep soakings. This is one of the reasons it is specified for parks and rural plantings where irrigation is limited or absent.
Plant into well prepared, free draining soil and water deeply while it establishes. Mulch the root zone annually, keeping the trunk collar clear. Prune in late winter to shape the young tree and lift the canopy, then leave it alone. Feed with a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring for the first few years.
Brachychiton acerifolius, the Illawarra Flame Tree, is a large Australian native with a straight trunk and a broad crown of glossy lobed leaves. In warmer summers it sheds much of that foliage and clothes the bare branches in scarlet bell flowers, which is the display the tree is known for.
It grows best in full sun on deep, free draining soil and suits warm temperate and subtropical gardens through coastal New South Wales and Queensland. Young trees need protection from frost, although established specimens take light frosts in their stride. Growth is around 50 to 100 centimetres a year, and mature trees are notably drought hardy.
The scale suits parks, rural properties, large gardens and civic landscapes, and it works as an avenue or street tree where the canopy has room. Allow 3 to 4 metres between trees for avenue work, more for a specimen. Buyers choose it for a summer flowering event that no other shade tree in the catalogue matches.
About Illawarra Flame Tree
Brachychiton acerifolius is an Australian native tree from the rainforest margins of the east coast, in the family Malvaceae. It is grown for the mass of scarlet bell shaped flowers it carries in early summer, usually on bare or half bare branches. The leaves are glossy and deeply lobed, and older trees develop a thick, buttressed trunk.
In good ground it reaches 15 to 25 metres tall with a crown 8 to 12 metres across, so it is a tree for open space rather than a courtyard. Growth in cultivation is often slower and shorter than in habitat, but the mature footprint should still be planned for. Compact hybrids are available where the room is not there.
It is best described as semi deciduous. In most seasons it drops the majority of its leaves in late spring, flowers on the bare framework, then pushes new foliage straight afterwards. In warm frost free gardens the leaf drop can be partial and brief. In cooler districts the tree can stand bare for several weeks.
Flowering runs from late spring into early summer, generally November through to January depending on the season and district. The display is triggered by warm dry conditions, so it is heavier in some years than others, and young trees often take several years before their first real flush. Flowers are followed by boat shaped seed pods.
Only moderately. Established trees cope with light frosts, but young stock is easily damaged by hard or repeated frost and should be protected through its first few winters. It is a warm climate tree by origin, so cold inland sites with heavy frost are not its natural fit. Plant where cold air drains away rather than settling.
The root system is not regarded as aggressive. Trees develop a thick tuberous taproot when young and a spreading anchoring system as they mature, and they are not known for lifting paving or entering drains. Even so, the trunk thickens considerably with age, so allow several metres of clearance from kerbs, footings and services.
Water deeply through the first two summers to establish the root system, then it needs little supplementary water. Mulch out to the drip line and keep the mulch off the trunk. Prune only to remove damaged wood or to lift the canopy while the tree is young. A light application of a native fertiliser in spring is enough.
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Brachychiton rupestris, the Queensland Bottle Tree, is one of the most distinctive trees in cultivation, instantly recognised by its dramatically swollen bottle-shaped trunk. The trunk stores water, giving the tree exceptional drought tolerance and a bold sculptural presence.
Bottle Tree grows slowly to 10-15 metres tall and 5-8 metres wide, with the characteristic trunk swelling developing gradually over many years. The narrow deep green leaves and upright open canopy contrast beautifully with the broad trunk, suiting feature positions in dry-climate gardens, civic landscapes, and rural properties.
Bottle Tree is extremely drought tolerant once established and thrives across QLD, NSW, VIC and SA in full sun with well-drained soil. Its non-aggressive habit makes it safe to use near paving and structures. Clusters of yellow-green bell-shaped flowers appear in early summer.
About Brachychiton rupestris Bottle Tree
Brachychiton rupestris grows to 10-15 metres tall and 5-8 metres wide, with the distinctive swollen bottle-shaped trunk developing over many years.
The Bottle Tree is slow to moderate growing, adding 20-40cm per year. The characteristic trunk swelling develops gradually with age.
The thick bottle-shaped trunk acts as a water reservoir, storing moisture that allows the tree to survive extended dry periods. This adaptation makes it exceptionally drought hardy.
Yes. Brachychiton rupestris is native to inland Queensland, where it is an iconic feature of the dry landscape.
Yes. The Bottle Tree is a striking sculptural feature tree for gardens, courtyards, and urban landscapes, and its non-aggressive habit makes it suitable near paving and structures.
Yes. The Bottle Tree is extremely drought tolerant once established thanks to its water-storing trunk, and thrives in hot dry climates with minimal water.
The Bottle Tree thrives across most of Australia, particularly in QLD, NSW, VIC and SA. It tolerates frost once established and prefers full sun with well-drained soil.
