Brachychiton acerifolius (Illawarra Flame Tree) is the region’s most famous tree, although its natural range is from the Shoalhaven River to Far North Queensland. It normally takes about 15 years to flower, and the photos above are of one of the six I planted in the Banksia Bush Care site some 30 years ago. They flower intermittently, but this summer, they were spectacular. I was even surprised to find that one of the 70 we planted five years ago has started to flower, albeit on only one branch.

They are relatively easy to germinate. The seeds are in a large pod covered