BRACHYCHITON discolor Highfields Pink (Lacebark) grafted

Highfields Pink Lacebark (Brachychiton discolor 'Highfields Pink') is a grafted form of the Queensland lacebark selected for heavy, deep pink flowering. In cultivation it makes a shapely tree of about 10m tall and 6m wide, far short of the 30m it reaches in rainforest, flowering on bare branches in summer once the leaves drop. Because it is grafted, it flowers years earlier than a seedling tree and comes true to the parent.

Why you'll love it

• Pink flowers on bare grey wood. The tree sheds its leaves in early summer, then covers itself in waxy bell flowers.
• Grafted, so it performs sooner. Seedling lacebarks are variable and slow to flower; a grafted tree gives the colour you paid for.
• An Australian native that feeds wildlife. The flowers draw honeyeaters, native bees and butterflies through summer.
• Tough once it is away. Drought, heat and wind tolerant, with a well behaved canopy for a tree of this height.
• Semi mature stock. These are field grown trees of 6m and above, so you are not waiting a decade for presence.

Where it works best

Feature and shade tree. One tree in open lawn is the usual placement. Allow 6m of clear width and set it well back from the house.

Driveways and avenues. Space trees 8m to 10m apart along a drive. That keeps each crown distinct while the row still reads as an avenue.

Growing Highfields Pink Lacebark in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, in tropical, subtropical or warm temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so cold tableland and inland southern districts are outside its range. Wind is not a problem once the roots are down, which suits open rural blocks.

Soil. Deep, free draining soil gives the best growth, though it copes with heavier ground provided water moves through. Break the sides of the pit, backfill with site soil, and mulch 75mm deep away from the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep watering weekly through the first two summers matters more than anything else with a transplanted tree. After that it only needs help in long dry spells. Use a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring.

Pruning. Very little. Remove damaged or crossing limbs in late winter and leave the natural pyramid shape alone. Never top a lacebark, since it spoils the form permanently.

What to expect when it arrives

This is ex ground stock, offered at 6m to 6.5m and 8m to 8.5m, and both sizes run on backorder because trees are lifted from the growing field to order. They arrive root balled rather than potted, and need machinery and several people on site to place them, with the hole pre dug on delivery day.

Expect leaf drop and a quiet first season while a tree this size rebuilds its feeder roots. That is normal, not a fault. Staking, deep watering and patience through the first two summers do the work. Trees are delivered Australia wide, with a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost with transport quoted for each job. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the ex ground tree range
• How to transplant a large tree successfully
• Compare Australian native trees
• Queensland Bottle Tree for a broader trunked relative

Common questions

What does ex ground mean?

The tree has been grown in the ground rather than a pot, then lifted with a root ball in season. Ex ground trees give instant size, and in exchange need careful handling, machinery and a season to settle.

When does it flower?

Through summer, once the leaves have dropped. A grafted tree of this size should flower within a year or two of settling in.

Does it really lose all its leaves?

Yes, briefly. Lacebark is deciduous in the warm months rather than winter, and the bare period is short before flowers and new foliage follow.

How far from the house should it go?

Allow at least 6m from buildings, paving and services to match the canopy width. It is a substantial tree at 10m and deserves an open position.