BRACHYCHITON acerifolius x discolor (Clarabelle) grafted

Clarabelle (Brachychiton 'Clarabelle') is a hybrid of the Illawarra flame tree and the lacebark that flowers in pink to red bells on bare branches, at a size a garden can hold. Expect around 7m tall and 4m wide, noticeably more compact than a straight flame tree. This is grafted ex ground stock, which matters: grafted plants flower young rather than making you wait a decade.

Why you'll love it

• It flowers young. Grafting is the difference between blooms in a few years and blooms in ten, which is the usual complaint with seedling flame trees.
• A manageable size. At about 7m by 4m it brings the flowering display into a normal suburban block.
• Bells against bare wood. The tree sheds its leaves ahead of flowering, so nothing dilutes the colour.
• Tough once settled. Drought tolerant and heat tolerant, and low maintenance, so a hot open position suits it.

Where it works best

Feature planting. This is a tree to stand alone in a lawn or a front garden where the flowering can be seen from a distance. Allow 4m of clear width.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 5m to 6m apart along a drive. At that spacing the crowns stay distinct and the line flowers together.

Shade trees. The summer canopy gives useful shade over a seating area or a lawn, and the leaf drop before flowering lets winter sun back through.

Growing Clarabelle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and it takes light frost only, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and frosty southern gardens are not suitable. Protect young trees through their first two winters even in mild areas.

Soil. Deep, well drained soil. It handles most types but not wet ground, so mound the planting site on heavy clay and keep it out of low spots.

Water and feed. Water deeply through the first two summers while the roots go down, then it becomes genuinely drought tolerant. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough, and heavy feeding produces leaf at the expense of flower.

Pruning. Very little. Remove damaged wood and lift the lower branches for clearance while the tree is young. Never cut below the graft union, and rub off any shoots from the rootstock.

What to expect when it arrives

Ex ground stock is field grown, root pruned and lifted with a root ball rather than raised in a pot, and it is sold as a single advanced specimen rather than by pot size. That means a heavy root ball, machinery to place it and clear vehicle access on planting day. Plant in the cooler months, water it in hard, and stake it for two years.

Expect a quiet first season while the roots recover, and uneven flowering in the early years. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and plants are delivered Australia wide. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full ex ground tree range
• Native plants with red flowers
• Compare other Australian native trees
• Flowering trees for feature planting

Common questions

How is it different from an Illawarra flame tree?

Clarabelle is a hybrid with the lacebark, which makes it smaller and more compact at around 7m rather than 12m or more. The flowers lean pink red rather than pure scarlet.

How soon will it flower?

Sooner than a seedling tree, because grafted plants flower young. Allow a couple of seasons for the roots to settle after planting before you judge it.

Will it handle frost?

Light frost only. Cold inland and southern gardens will damage it, and young trees are the most vulnerable, so give it a warm sheltered position in any marginal area.

What does ex ground mean?

The tree is grown in open field rather than a pot, which builds a stronger trunk and better form, then root pruned before lifting so it re-establishes well. The trade off is weight and the machinery needed on the day.