Brachychiton ‘Magenta Bells’ (DB01) Grafted

Brachychiton 'Magenta Bells' (Brachychiton 'Magenta Bells', breeder code DB01) is a grafted flowering brachychiton bred down to fit real backyards. It grows to about 4m tall and 2.5m wide, carries flushes of bell shaped flowers in deep pink to red, and because every tree is grafted it flowers while still young. For a small garden that wants a genuine native feature tree, it is an easy choice to defend.

Why you'll love it

• Compact by breeding, not by force. At about 4m tall and 2.5m wide it fits courtyards, front gardens and small blocks that a full sized brachychiton would swamp.
• Grafted for early flowers. Grafting keeps the tree compact and brings flowering forward, so you see the pink to red bells years sooner than seed grown stock.
• Tough where summers bite. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and untroubled by poor soil once established, it earns its keep in hot dry gardens.
• Roots that stay out of trouble. Non-invasive roots make it one of the safer flowering trees to plant near paths, driveways and garden walls.
• The birds find it. Nectar feeding birds work the bells while the tree is in flower.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single tree in a lawn circle or front garden bed carries the space on its own, and the compact canopy keeps the scale believable in a small garden.

Driveways and entries. A matched pair either side of a gate, or a repeated line along a drive, gives formal structure without the invasive roots that rule larger trees out.

Pots and containers. It copes well in a very large container on a paved courtyard. Use a quality mix and accept that summer watering becomes your job.

Growing Magenta Bells in Australia

Position and climate. Plant it in full sun for the strongest flowering. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and arid or semi arid climates, and it takes light frost once established. Districts with hard repeated frosts are the wrong home for it.

Soil. Almost any soil with reasonable drainage will do, including poor sandy or stony ground. On heavy clay, plant slightly proud of the surrounding grade and mulch generously, keeping mulch clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Water deeply once or twice a week through the first summer, then taper off. An established tree gets by on rain in most years. A controlled release native fertiliser in spring covers its feeding.

Pruning. Very little. Shape lightly after flowering if you want a cleaner outline, and remove any shoots that appear from below the graft union so the rootstock never takes over.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Magenta Bells as advanced stock in a 400mm pot, so it arrives as a formed young tree, not a whip. It travels upright and is delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Give it a deep soak on arrival, plant within a few days, and expect it to sit quietly for a few weeks before new growth shows. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare flowering trees for Australian gardens
• Browse our Australian native plant range
• More plants sized for small gardens
• When is the best time to plant a tree

Common questions

How big does Magenta Bells get?

About 4m tall and 2.5m wide at maturity. The graft keeps it compact, a small tree rather than a park sized brachychiton.

Will the roots damage paving or pipes?

This selection has non-invasive roots, which is why it suits driveways and entries. As standard practice, keep the trunk about a metre back from paths and paving.

Can I grow it in a pot long term?

Yes. Give it the largest container you can manage, a premium potting mix, full sun and consistent summer water. Container trees stay a little smaller and still flower well.

How much frost will it handle?

Light frost once established. Young trees are the vulnerable ones, so in marginal districts shelter the tree for its first two winters and avoid planting in a frost hollow.