Little Kurrajong
CAUTION
Seeds have irritant hairs.
Origin of name
Family: STERCULIACEAE
- Brachychiton meaning “short coat”
- bidwillii in honour of John Carne Bidwill
Occurrence
NOT a local plant. A highly variable plant of dry rain-forest, vine thicket & rocky slopes from Bowen to SE Qld.
Suits most moist, well-drained soils. Prefers full sun but tolerates shade, frost & drought (even young roots tuberous). Suits larger pots, planters & tubs. Prune to maintain size and maximise flowering. Flowers best in full sun.
Appearance
Small (2-5m), multi-stem tree with deeply-lobed or maple-like leaves, deciduous when flowering. Pink-red, bell flowers (Nov-Feb) cluster along stems and lead to velvety, boat-shaped seed pods (~12cm).
Good specimen tree, spectacular in flower. Flowers while young. Bonsai-suitable. Good size for small gardens.
