Water
Water regularly once established, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Young trees require more consistent moisture.
Reduce watering in winter to prevent waterlogging and root rot, especially in cooler climates.
Also known as Australian Flame Tree · Flame Bottletree · Flame Kurrajong
Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) is a spectacular Australian native tree, renowned for its brilliant scarlet-red bell-shaped flowers that often cover the e
At-a-glance light, water, soil, and growing conditions from plant data
Full Sun
100% intensity
Thrives in full sun to achieve best flowering. Tolerates partial shade but may flower less prolifically.
Moderate
50% intensity
Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings once established. Reduce watering in winter.
Well-drained
50% intensity
Moderate
50% intensity
Prefers warm climates. Can tolerate light frost once mature, but protect young trees from prolonged cold.
Low
25% intensity
Fertilize sparingly in spring with a balanced fertilizer. Over-fertilizing can reduce flowering.
Safety information from plant toxicity data
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Toxic for humans | No 0/5 intensity |
| Toxic for pets | No 0/5 intensity |
| Edible | No |
Non-toxic
Key traits and growing stats from plant data
Watering, pruning, propagation, and repotting details from plant data
Water regularly once established, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Young trees require more consistent moisture.
Reduce watering in winter to prevent waterlogging and root rot, especially in cooler climates.
Prune to shape and maintain size, ideally after flowering. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches. Heavy pruning can be done to encourage denser growth or to manage its size in smaller gardens.
Avoid pruning during its main flowering season.
Best propagated from seed sown fresh in spring, or from cuttings taken from semi-hardwood in summer. Seeds may require scarification or soaking to improve germination rates.
Cuttings should be treated with rooting hormone and kept in a warm, humid environment.
Young plants benefit from repotting every 2-3 years to refresh the soil and provide more space. Mature trees are generally best left in the ground.
If repotting is necessary, choose a larger pot and use a well-draining potting mix.
Identify plants like this with ePlant AI
Snap a photo to get care tips and match similar species on the go.
Monthly activity intensity for bloom and fruit across both hemispheres.
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Photos of Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius)
Common names and botanical synonyms
Botanical classification
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Malvales |
| Family | Malvaceae |
| Genus | Brachychiton |
| Species | Brachychiton acerifolius |
Similar in genus Brachychiton
Answers based on plant encyclopedia data
