CAT-00112
Illawarra flame tree
Brachychiton acerifolius
Catalog fields
- Genus
- Brachychiton
- Photo
- Not recorded
- Edible
- Yes
- layout
- double
- Habitat
- Not recorded
- Published
- Yes
- Food group
- Nut / seed
- Latin name
- Brachychiton acerifolius
- Fruit photo
- Not recorded
- Plant title
- Illawarra flame tree
- Source URLs
- https://mrccc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Edible-and-useful-native-plants.pdf; https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?lvl=sp&name=Brachychiton~acerifolius&page=nswfl Open source ↗ Open source 2 ↗
- Catalogue ID
- CAT-00112
- Mature width
- Not confirmed; allow spread appropriate to growth habit
- Native range
- Queensland and NSW subtropical rainforest.
- Plant family
- Malvaceae
- Supplier SKU
- Not recorded
- Listing group
- Regional / traditional food plant
- Mature height
- Up to 35 m
- Native states
- NSW, QLD
- Original list
- No
- Research date
- 10/10/2026
- Research notes
- Profile enriched from botanical/nursery sources. Dimensions are unpruned regional estimates where available; missing measurements remain explicit. Seasons are regional guides and vary with climate, location, cultivar and plant maturity. Drought and cultivation guidance are qualitative garden inferences, not measured ratings.
- Evidence status
- Published food use; preparation detail review pending
- Fruiting season
- Follicles follow flowers.
- Background photo
- Not recorded
- Edible component
- Cleaned roasted seeds
- Flowering season
- Spring on leafless branches; flowering varies by year.
- Brief description
- Large seasonally deciduous tree with vivid red flowers.
- Drought tolerance
- Moderate to high once established.
- Preparation notes
- Seeds need irritating hairs removed and verified roasting/preparation; use gloves.
- Flower description
- Bright coral-red, bell-shaped flowers, often displayed on leafless branches.
- General cultivation
- General guidance (qualitative): Promising for a large site; allow for height and prepare seeds carefully.
- Botanical description
- Not recorded
- Other botanical names
- Not recorded
- Attracts birds and bugs
- Native bees and insects visit flowers; canopy shelters birds.
- Flora of Australia profile
- Not recorded
- Fruit type and description
- Dark woody follicles containing hairy seeds requiring preparation.
- Flora of Australia citation
- Not recorded
- Flora of Australia retrieved
- Not recorded