Brachychiton rupestris (Queensland Bottle Tree) - A semi-deciduous tree with a large swollen trunk (sometimes referred to as a pachycaul) that grows to 60 feet in the wilds of Queensland Australia and northern New South Wales but typically is much shorter in cultivation - 30 year old trees in Santa Barbara have robust trunks to 8-12 feet tall and overall height of 20 to 25 feet. In youth this tree has a narrow straight trunk and bares fairly small narrow-dissected palmate leaves. As the tree matures the stem swells as it stores water and becomes bottle shaped and the leaves broaden and turn from compound to simple. Though this plant holds its leaves through a typical winter, the leaves drop before the cream and red flowers appear in late spring to early summer and can also drop off during times of drought stress. Plant in full sun in most any soil type and give moderate to little irrigation - trees will grow better and trunk will develop when plant is well watered but it can also tolerate very dry conditions. Hardy to 18-20° F for short durations. The species is endemic to central Queensland south into northern New South Wales and was first discovered by Sir Thomas Mitchell in 1848 on an expedition through Queensland and described by John Lindley utilizing Mitchell's choice of the genus name Delabechea to honor the director of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, Henry De la Beche and for the specific epithet used the Latin word for "living amound rocks" in reference to the rocky habitat where Mitchell first observed it.

Category: Tree
Family: Malvaceae (w/Bombacaceae & Sterculeacea)
Origin: Australia (Australasia)
Flower Color: Cream & Red
Bloomtime: Spring/Summer
Synonyms: [Delabechea rupestris, B. delabechei, Sterculia]
Height: 25-40 feet
Width: 20-30 feet
Exposure: Full Sun
Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F