The Bottle Tree
Brachychiton rupestris
A supreme feature tree
Bottle Trees will fit into virtually any landscape design and will make an impressive presence. Succulent, drought resistant and semi-deciduous, the Bottle Tree is tolerant of a range of various soils and temperatures.
Bottle Trees demonstrate a high degree of individuality, each tree being different in shape and character to the next. From the remarkable striking, bottle shape the trunks taper upwards to a narrow neck from which the branch network grows upwards and outwards.
Bottle Trees mostly grow as a single stem though some divide into two or three close to the ground and later may meld into one making an impressive trunk.
Interesting Facts:
- Frost tolerant when established down to minus -8ºC.
- Irregular deciduous - leaves may not fall every year and then only some branches. Leaves develop in 5 different stages.
- Flowers are cream - may not flower every year.
- Bottle begins to form under ground when 10cm high.
- The trunk may excrete sap during wet weather.
- They put down single or multiple tap roots, that look like a carrot with some surface feeder roots.
- Good for growing in lawns and garden beds - they won't rob moisture.
- Canopy can be heavily pruned to form compact, smaller shape.
- Smaller Bottle Trees generally produce a squat bottle shape.
- Taller Bottle Trees produce slender longer bottle shapes.
We would like to thank Mr Doug Sowerbutts of Bottletree Plantations Helidon Australia for allowing us to use many of the images and information from his website. Doug is considered to be one of Australia's prominent Bottletree experts.