Illawarra Flame Tree

The Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) is one of the few trees that genuinely stops traffic. In a garden it reaches around 12m tall and 6m wide, upright and reasonably narrow for its height. In early summer it drops most of its leaves and covers the bare branches in waxy scarlet bells, a display that lasts weeks and can be seen from the end of the street. It is fast, drought hardy and native to the east coast.

Why you'll love it

• Scarlet flowering on bare wood. Nothing green softens the colour. The whole crown reads as red for several weeks in early summer.
• Upright for its size. At roughly 12m by 6m it gives canopy height without the sprawling width of most large shade trees.
• Real habitat value. An Australian native whose flowers pull in nectar feeding birds, bees and butterflies.
• Genuinely tough. Drought tolerant once established, heat tolerant and wind tolerant, with a swollen trunk base that stores water.
• Fast to establish. Young trees grow strongly in a warm season, so the wait for a canopy is shorter than the mature size suggests.

Where it works best

Feature planting. This is a specimen tree first. Site it where the flowering is seen from the house or the street, with open sky above it.

Shade for larger gardens. The canopy is high and open, so it shades an area without smothering what grows beneath. Allow 6m of clear width and keep it 6m from buildings.

Driveways, avenues and windy blocks. Spaced 8m to 10m apart along a drive it gives a run of scarlet, and its wind tolerance makes it usable on open acreage.

Growing the Illawarra Flame Tree in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. Flowering is tied to sun and to a warm dry spell before summer. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens and takes light frost only once established, so frost free coastal districts are the safe southern limit.

Soil. Deep, free draining soil gives the best growth, and waterlogging is not negotiable. On clay, plant high on a broad mound and improve a wide area rather than a single hole.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then only in extended dry periods. A native slow release fertiliser in early spring is plenty. Rich feeding produces leaves at the expense of flowers.

Pruning and handling. Shape in late winter while the tree is young to build a clean leader and lift the canopy. Mature trees need little beyond removing damaged wood. The seed pods carry fine hairs that irritate skin, so wear gloves.

What to expect when it arrives

Flame trees are grown here in eleven sizes. The 200mm packs of six, 250mm, 300mm and 400mm pots are young trees that establish fast and cost the least to freight. From 45L up through 75L, 100L, 200L, 300L, 400L and 700L you are buying years, and a 100L or larger tree already carries trunk calliper and branch structure.

Stock is delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and the largest sizes are quoted on specialist transport. Expect a settling period of a few weeks, then vigorous growth once soil temperatures rise. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse Australian native trees
• How to choose a shade tree for your climate
• Compare feature trees for a focal point
• See the full flowering tree range

Common questions

How long before it flowers?

Usually several years, and advanced stock flowers sooner than small pots. Full sun and lean feeding bring it forward, and a dry late spring gives the strongest display.

Why has it lost all its leaves?

That is the tree doing what it should. It sheds most of its foliage immediately before flowering, which is why the scarlet is so intense. The leaves return straight after.

How big will it get in a suburban garden?

Around 12m tall and 6m wide. The species reaches 30m or more in rainforest, but garden grown trees stay far smaller.