Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree
Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree
Deciduous · Full Sun
Mature size: 6m–8m high × 4m–6m wide
- Deciduous
- Full Sun
- Mature height6m–8m
- Mature width4m–6m
- Frost Tolerant
- Flowers
Produces masses of brilliant red flowers on a more compact tree, delivering the iconic Flame Tree display in smaller landscapes.
- Current height guide
- Please enquire
- Pot size
- 30cm/33cm
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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Mature height & width
Mature height & width
- Mature height
- 6m to 8m
- Mature width
- 4m to 6m
Pot sizes & dimensions
Pot sizes & dimensions
| 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.
Delivery & pickup
Delivery & pickup
Trade enquiries
Trade enquiries
We supply advanced trees to landscapers, developers, architects, and councils Australia-wide. Trade clients receive fast quotes, expert advice, and access to premium stock with reliable freight.
Freight estimate
Based on the items currently in your cart.
Final delivery cost is confirmed at checkout using your full address.
About Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’
Brachychiton x acerifolius 'Little Illawarra' is a compact form of the flame tree, bred to carry the scarlet flowering display on a small rounded canopy. Lobed green leaves cover the frame for most of the year, and the tree sheds much of that foliage before the red bells open in late spring.
Full sun gives the heaviest flowering, and it accepts clay, loam or sand as long as water drains away. Established trees handle light to moderate frost and extended dry weather without fuss. Growth of 40 to 80 centimetres a year keeps it manageable, and pruning is rarely needed beyond shaping the young leader.
Courtyards, small front gardens, streetscapes and narrow verges all suit it, and a row makes a workable avenue at about 3 metres apart. It will also carry in a large planter for several years. The appeal is a flame tree display in a space that could never hold the full sized species.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Little Illawarra Flame Tree
What is the Little Illawarra Flame Tree?
It is a compact hybrid selection of Brachychiton acerifolius, bred to give the scarlet bell flowers of the Illawarra Flame Tree on a much smaller tree. The canopy is rounded and dense and the leaves are lobed and glossy. It is an Australian native cultivar aimed at residential gardens and urban streetscapes.
How big does Little Illawarra grow?
It reaches about 4 to 6 metres tall with a canopy 3 to 4 metres wide, against 15 to 25 metres for the straight species. That puts it firmly in small tree territory, suitable for a front garden, a verge or a courtyard. The rounded habit means the width should be planned for as well as the height.
Is it evergreen or deciduous?
It is semi deciduous. Most of the foliage falls in late spring just before flowering, and in cold districts the tree can also thin out over winter, so it is best not treated as a year round screen. New leaves push through quickly once the flowers finish, and the canopy fills again by mid summer.
When does it flower?
Flowering runs from late spring into summer, generally November through to January. Clusters of scarlet bell shaped flowers open across the canopy, often on branches that have partly dropped their leaves, which is what makes the colour so strong. Warm dry spring weather brings on the heaviest display, and young trees flower early.
Can it be grown in a pot?
Yes, for a number of years. Use a container at least 60 centimetres across with a free draining potting mix and a position in full sun. Water regularly through summer and feed lightly in spring. Growth and eventual size will be smaller than a ground planted tree, and it will need repotting or planting out eventually.
Is it frost tolerant?
Once established it takes light to moderate frost, which is an improvement on the full sized Illawarra Flame Tree. Young trees are still vulnerable in their first winter or two and are worth protecting with frost cloth in cold districts. Choose a position where cold air drains away rather than pooling in a hollow.
How do I care for Little Illawarra?
Water deeply through the first two summers, then reduce to occasional soakings in dry weather. Mulch the root zone and keep the mulch off the trunk. Prune lightly in late winter to shape the canopy, and remove any competing leaders while the tree is young. A native fertiliser in early spring supports flowering.
| Mature height | 6m to 8m |
|---|---|
| Mature width | 4m to 6m |
| Position | Full Sun |
| Growth per year | 40cm to 80cm per year under suitable conditions |
| Frost | Frost Tolerant |
| Foliage | Deciduous (Defoliates throughout colder months) |
| Form | Rounded · Compact |
| Uses | Street Tree · Avenue Planting |
- Foliage
Deciduous (Defoliates throughout colder months)
- Position
- Form
- Use
- Mature height
- 6m to 8m
- Mature width
- 4m to 6m
Planting Information
Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree
Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree is expected to grow 40cm to 80cm per year under suitable conditions.
Long Term Care For Your Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree
Planting Your Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree in Different Soil
Uses in my Garden
Uses in my Garden
Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree works in an:
Is Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree Evergreen or Deciduous?
Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree is an Deciduous (Defoliates throughout colder months) Tree
Mature Height & Width
Mature Height: 6m to 8m
Mature Width: 4m to 6m
Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree is expected to grow 40cm to 80cm per year under suitable conditions.
Growth Rate of Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree
Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree is expected to grow 40cm to 80cm per year under suitable conditions.
They are considered to have a:
Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree
Is Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree frost tolerant?
Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.
Does Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree Flower?
Brachychiton × acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ produces masses of vibrant scarlet-red bell-shaped flowers during late spring and summer on mature trees. The blooms create a spectacular seasonal display against the foliage, bringing brilliant colour and strong ornamental impact to gardens and streetscapes.
Does Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree flower?
Flowering Period:
Flower Type:
Flower Colour:
Red
Is Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree an Australian Native Tree?
Yes
Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree is Native to Australian hybrid selection derived from Brachychiton acerifolius and related Brachychiton breeding lines.
What is the Wildlife Value of Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree ?
Its nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial pollinators throughout the flowering season, supporting biodiversity within native and ornamental landscapes. The branching canopy also provides valuable shelter and habitat for small birds and beneficial insects throughout the year.
How much Sunlight does Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree need?
Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree will thrive best in:
Preferred Soil?
Brachychiton × acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ performs best in well-drained loam or sandy soils with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. It will also tolerate poorer soils and a range of general garden conditions provided drainage remains reliable. Avoid persistently wet or heavily compacted conditions unless significantly improved, as excess moisture can reduce root health and overall vigour. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then gradually reduce watering as the tree matures.
Is Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree Drought Tolerant?
Is Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree Drought tolerant?
As a young tree it benefits from regular watering to establish a healthy root system, particularly during warmer weather. Once established, ‘Little Illawarra’ shows excellent drought tolerance and performs reliably through extended dry periods with minimal supplementary watering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Compare sizes side by side
30cm/33cm
Enquire for current heights
Heights are approximate and vary between individual trees.
Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ is loved for its Produces masses of brilliant red flowers on a more compact tree, delivering the iconic Flame Tree display in smaller landscapes.
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.
Plant Your Brachychiton x acerifolius ‘Little Illawarra’ – Little Illawarra Flame Tree With:
Trachelospermum jasminoides Balls – Star Jasmine Balls
Trachelospermum jasminoides Balls – Star Jasmine Balls
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Star Jasmine Balls
What are 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.
How big do Star Jasmine Balls grow?
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.
Do Star Jasmine Balls need sun or shade?
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.
Can Star Jasmine Balls be grown in pots?
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.
Are Star Jasmine Balls evergreen?
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.
When do Star Jasmine Balls flower?
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.
How do I prune and care for Star Jasmine Balls?
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.
Trachelospermum jasminoides Balls – Star Jasmine Balls

Westringia fruticosa – Coastal Rosemary
Westringia fruticosa – Coastal Rosemary
Westringia fruticosa, Coastal Rosemary, is an Australian native evergreen shrub from the headlands and dunes of the east coast. It builds a dense rounded bush of fine grey green leaves held in whorls, with small white to pale lilac flowers. Despite the common name it is not the culinary herb.
Mature plants sit at 1.5 to 2 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide, growing 30 to 60 centimetres a year, and they clip smaller without complaint. Full sun to part shade and sharp drainage are the requirements. Salt wind, sandy soil, drought and light to moderate frost are all handled.
It is a standard on coastal projects, road verges, council garden beds and exposed banks that need erosion cover. Plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for an informal screen, or 80 centimetres for a clipped hedge. A single plant fills a 40 to 50 centimetre pot on a courtyard or balcony.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Coastal Rosemary
What is Coastal Rosemary?
Westringia fruticosa is an Australian native evergreen shrub from the headlands and dunes of the east coast. It forms a dense rounded bush of fine grey green leaves held in whorls, with small white to pale lilac flowers. Despite the common name it is not culinary rosemary and is not used in cooking.
How big does Coastal Rosemary grow?
Mature plants reach 1.5 to 2 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide. It clips readily to smaller dimensions and is often maintained at around a metre as a hedge or a low mound. Growth is moderate, roughly 30 to 60 centimetres a year, so it holds a trimmed shape well.
Is Coastal Rosemary suitable for coastal positions?
It is one of the best shrubs available for exposed coastal work. It grows naturally on sea cliffs and copes with salt laden wind, sand and reflected heat. It is used constantly on beachfront reserves, dune stabilisation projects and seaside gardens where little else holds a tidy shape.
When does Coastal Rosemary flower?
The main flush is spring and summer, roughly September through February, with scattered flowering at other times of the year in mild districts. The flowers are small, white to pale lilac and sit among the foliage rather than above it. Clipped hedges flower less than plants left to grow informally.
How far apart should I plant Coastal Rosemary for a hedge?
Space plants 80 centimetres apart for a tight formal hedge, or 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen. On banks and batters used for erosion cover, 1 metre in a staggered grid gives full ground coverage within about two growing seasons.
Can Coastal Rosemary grow in pots?
Yes. A pot 40 to 50 centimetres wide suits a single plant for a courtyard, entry or balcony. Use a free draining mix, because the roots will not tolerate sitting wet. Container plants need watering more often than those in the ground, plus a light trim to hold their shape.
How do I prune and care for Coastal Rosemary?
Trim lightly two or three times a year, taking the soft new growth and avoiding cuts into bare old wood, which reshoots poorly. Water through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. On most soils it needs no feeding at all, and it resents heavy watering and poor drainage.
Westringia fruticosa – Coastal Rosemary

Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Blue’ – Wynyabbie Blue Coastal Rosemary
Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Blue’ – Wynyabbie Blue Coastal Rosemary
Westringia 'Wynyabbie Blue' is a hardy Australian native shrub grown for its lilac blue flowers, which are larger and more freely carried than those of the common white forms. Narrow grey green leaves sit in neat whorls on a dense rounded frame that holds its shape through the year.
Expect 1.5 to 2 metres in height and width at maturity, at 30 to 60 centimetres a year. Full sun brings the heaviest flowering, though part shade is accepted. Drainage matters above everything else, after which it takes salt wind, sandy or gravelly ground, drought and light to moderate frost.
Mass plantings on batters, median strips and coastal frontages are where it earns its keep, and it clips into a low hedge of about a metre without losing its flowering. Plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for an informal screen. One plant fills a 40 to 50 centimetre pot neatly.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Wynyabbie Blue Coastal Rosemary
What is Westringia Wynyabbie Blue?
Westringia 'Wynyabbie Blue' is a hardy Australian native shrub grown for its lilac blue flowers, which are larger and more freely carried than those of the common white forms. Narrow grey green leaves sit in neat whorls on a dense rounded frame. It is evergreen and holds its structure all year.
How big does Wynyabbie Blue grow?
It reaches 1.5 to 2 metres tall and 1.5 to 2 metres wide at maturity, growing 30 to 60 centimetres a year. It clips comfortably to around a metre if you want a lower hedge, and it will hold that height indefinitely given two or three light trims a year.
When does Wynyabbie Blue flower?
From spring right through autumn, roughly September to May, with sporadic flowers in winter in mild districts. The lilac blue flowers open in flushes rather than all at once, so there is usually some colour on the plant. Flowering is heaviest in full sun on lean, well drained soil.
Is Wynyabbie Blue drought tolerant?
Yes. Once the roots are established it needs very little water and copes with extended dry periods, which is why it is used on unirrigated median strips and road verges. Drainage matters more than watering, since the plant will die in soggy ground long before it dies of thirst.
Is Wynyabbie Blue suitable for coastal positions?
It is. Salt laden wind, sandy soils and reflected heat are all handled, and it is planted routinely on foreshore reserves and beachside gardens. In very exposed frontal positions the plant stays lower and denser than it would inland, which generally suits the situation anyway.
How far apart should I plant Wynyabbie Blue for a hedge?
Use 80 centimetres between plants for a clipped formal hedge, or 1 to 1.5 metres for a dense informal screen. For mass planting on banks and median strips, 1 metre in a staggered pattern gives full coverage within about two growing seasons and shades out most weeds.
How do I prune and care for Wynyabbie Blue?
Trim lightly after each flowering flush, taking soft growth only. Cutting back into bare old wood leaves gaps that will not fill in, so stay on top of it rather than letting it get away. Water through the first summer, then rarely. Avoid rich soils and heavy fertiliser.
Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Blue’ – Wynyabbie Blue Coastal Rosemary

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