Brachychiton

Plants for sale in the Boutique

The genus Brachychiton is a group of trees and shrubs belonging to the Malvaceae family, known for their drought resistance and often unusual shapes.

Here are their main characteristics:

• Growth habit and habitat: they are mostly medium to large trees, reaching 20–30 metres in height. Originally from Australia, they have adapted to arid and tropical climates. A distinctive feature, present in many species, is the swollen trunk at the base (bottle-shaped), which acts as a water reserve during dry periods.
• Leaves: the leaves are simple and alternate, but their shape is highly variable: they can be entire or deeply lobed (palmate), and their morphology may change even within the same species. In many species, the leaves fall before flowering.
• Flowers: the flowers, gathered in panicles, are unisexual (monoecious plants) and lack true petals. The function of petals is performed by the calyx, which is coloured and bell-shaped: colours range from cream and green to bright red and pink, depending on the species. The flowering of Brachychiton acerifolius is particularly spectacular.
• Fruits and seeds: the fruit is a woody follicle shaped like a pod, which splits open at maturity to reveal numerous seeds. The inside of the fruit is characterised by dense hairs, and the seeds are often surrounded by a honeycomb-like structure.

Some species, such as Brachychiton populneus (Kurrajong), are used as ornamental plants worldwide, as fodder plants for livestock, or for traditional uses by Aboriginal peoples.