This article was written by Stephanie Haslam about 16 years ago for the Noosa News column Noosa’s Native Plants.
A flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) in full bloom is spectacular. It is a native of our local sub-tropical rainforests (or what is left of them) with a natural range from the Illawarra region in New South Wales to Cape York Peninsula. Although it is unusual to see the tree completely covered in flowers, it has bloomed well this year.
Unlike other rainforest beauties like the Red Cedar, the Flame Tree survived the European timber-getters because they thought it’s soft timber of little use. But its attractive flowers made it a horticultural favourite. Fortunately propagation does not involve destruction of the tree and it is now grown successfully overseas.
The tree can reach 35 metres and loses many of its leaves just before the flowers appear from October to January. Separate male and female flowers occur on the same plant. They are followed by curious dark brown seed capsules and new glossy leaves with five to seven lobes.
Aboriginal people found it a useful tree. After roasting and pounding the seeds, they were eaten, and the fibre from the inner bark used to make rope and twine.
Photography – Stephanie Haslam