Brachychiton populneus - bottle tree (Forestrye)

Genus of about 30 species of evergreen or deciduous trees, some with bottle-shaped trunks, native to the humid or arid tropical forest of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Brachychiton populnes is a medium-sized evergreen tree 8-10 m tall, but in optimal conditions it can reach 10-20 m in height. Leaves: the younger ones have a pale green colour, the others are large, bright green, shiny, with an entire margin or deeply lobed. Flowers: small bell-shaped cream colored on the outside and purple on the inside gathered in panicles. Fruits: dehiscent boat-shaped woody capsules containing many seeds covered with stinging hairs.

Pedoclimatic needs

It prefers very sunny positions, loose, light soil, without stagnation and possibly with a fair amount of organic substance. The adult specimens are not afraid of short frosts (-4°/-6°C), but the young plants must be sheltered in winter to prevent the frost from ruining them. It does not require large quantities of water.

Sowing

Spring

Botanical Information

Botanical Name: Brachychiton populneus

Family: Sterculiaceae