Brachychiton acerifolius (Illawarra flame tree, "Goshuaogiri")

Japanese name: ゴウシュウアオギリ （豪州青桐）
Scientific name: Brachychiton acerifolius

[Overview]
In its native habitat it is a tree found in tropical rainforest along the coast, and in the wild it reaches 30–35 m in height.
It usually drops its leaves in the dry season, though the degree of leaf drop varies.
The trunk is cylindrical, and the bark is green to grayish green and smooth; it often does not branch until high up the trunk.
The leaves are alternate, about 25–30 cm across and palmately divided into 5 lobes, and the lobes are often further cut in a wavy pattern; the surface is glossy.
Some leaves are ovate, simple and entire.
The petioles are long.
Panicles or racemes emerge at the branch tips and bear many bright crimson to scarlet flowers, and the axis of the inflorescence is also red.
It flowers so profusely during the leafless period that the flowers cover the whole tree, making it conspicuous.
The flowers are bell-shaped, 2.5–3 cm long.
The fruit is a boat-shaped capsule about 10 cm long, which ripens to dark brown and splits along one side.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by cuttings or by grafting.
When grown from seed, it takes several years to flower.
It prefers fertile soil in a sunny, well-drained place.
The optimum growing temperature is 26–32°C, and ideally it is kept at 10°C or above for the winter, but if it is allowed to go dormant it tolerates down to 0°C, and if it is damaged by frost it recovers as long as the damage is slight.
Keep potted plants in a bright place such as by a window in winter.
It may drop its leaves when exposed to cold.
From spring to autumn, water thoroughly once the soil surface has dried; in winter keep it on the dry side, and if the leaves have dropped, withhold water.
The air is also apt to be dry in winter, so it is good to mist the leaves with a sprayer.
From spring to autumn, apply slow-release chemical fertilizer placed on the soil.
Dust easily collects on the leaves indoors, so it is good to wipe them occasionally with a lightly dampened cloth.
Pests and diseases include spider mites, scale insects and aphids.

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