Kurrajong, Bottletree, Kurrajong
Brachychiton populneus

Family: Sterculiaceae

What it is like

Bloom Color: Pink, Red. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early spring, Late summer, Late spring, Mid summer, Mid spring. Form: Oval, Rounded.

Brachychiton populneus is an evergreen Tree growing to 18 m (59ft) by 18 m (59ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to July. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 18

Where it is found

Coastal and sub-coastal areas on a variety of soils but favouring limestone.

Australia - New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Seed - raw or roasted. A popular Aboriginal food, they are also acceptable to western palates, especially when roasted. Very nutritious, containing about 18% protein, 25% fat plus high levels of zinc and magnesium. The roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute. Root - yam-like. A popular food item with the Australian Aborigines. The root of very young trees is used.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Coffee: the various substitutes that can be used instead of coffee.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 2

A fibre is obtained from the inner bark - it is used for making cordage, nets and dilly bags.

Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.

How it is grown

Landscape Uses:Pest tolerant, Specimen. Prefers a well-drained moderately fertile soil in a sunny position. Succeeds in most soils, tolerating dry soils in Australian gardens. Plants dislike wet soils, especially in the winter. Requires a minimum temperature of 7 - 10°c. Plants are hardy to at least -7°c in Australian gardens, though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer, colder and wetter winters. This plant is very doubtfully hardy outdoors in Britain, though plants in an unheated greenhouse survived a prolonged cold period in 1996 - 97 when temperatures sometimes went down to -8°c. Special Features:Not North American native, Attractive flowers or blooms.

Propagating it: Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Secondary; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 8-11

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

B. diversifolium.