Brachychiton ‘Bella Donna’

Brachychiton 'Bella Donna' (Brachychiton 'Bella Donna') is a hybrid of our own kurrajongs and flame trees, selected for the flowers rather than the timber. It settles at about 7m tall and 4m wide, which is a real shade tree on a suburban block rather than a park specimen. As it flowers it sheds much of its foliage, so the deep pink bells hang on near bare branches.

Why you'll love it

• Pink bells in quantity. The display lands on bare wood, so it reads from the street.
• Shade at a workable size. At 7m by 4m it covers a courtyard or a car space without the scale of a fig or a poinciana.
• Built for heat and dry. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and wind tolerant once established, which is why it holds up in arid and semi-arid gardens.
• Native and bird attracting. Nectar feeding birds work the flowers hard while they are open.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One tree in a front lawn is the honest use. Give it 4m of clear width and room to be seen whole.

Shade tree. The canopy is open enough to sit under and light enough that lawn or groundcover still grows beneath it.

Driveways and avenues. Allow at least 5m between trees so each canopy stays separate, set back from the paving.

Growing Brachychiton 'Bella Donna' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, and the more of it the better for flowering. This is a tree for tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and arid or semi-arid gardens. It takes light frost only, so cold inland and cool southern gardens will lose young trees.

Soil. Drainage is the main requirement. It is not fussy about type, but heavy clay that stays wet in winter will rot the roots. Mound the planting hole and mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then only in extended dry spells. Feed a low phosphorus native fertiliser once in early spring, since overfeeding gives leaf at the expense of flower.

Pruning. Very little is needed. Shape it early to a single leader and a clear trunk, remove crossing limbs, then leave it alone.

What to expect when it arrives

It is supplied in a single 45L size, an advanced tree with a formed trunk and branching already in place. That means structure on day one rather than a stake in the ground.

Expect it to sit still for a season while the roots move into the surrounding soil, then grow away at a moderate rate. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read about its relative, the Queensland bottle tree.
• Browse the full Australian native trees range.
• Compare other flowering trees for a feature position.
• See our driveway trees for an avenue planting.

Common questions

Does it lose its leaves?

Partly. It is semi deciduous, dropping much of its foliage as it flowers and refurnishing straight afterwards. The bare period is short, and it is what makes the flowering look so heavy.

How much room does it need?

Plan for a canopy about 4m across and roughly 7m of height. Keep it that far off a house wall, a fence line or overhead wires and you will not be pruning it every year.

Will it grow in a cool southern garden?

Only where frost is light. It tolerates a touch of frost once established, but repeated hard frosts will kill young trees outright, so cold tableland and inland gardens are not suitable.

How quickly does it grow?

At a moderate rate, faster in warm humid gardens than in dry inland ones. Starting from an advanced 45L tree removes several years of that wait.