QUEENSLAND BOTTLE TREE

Brachychiton rupestris

Specifications

• Height: 2.75m

• Concrete Planter: 80cm wide, drainage. 

• Inclusions: Price includes delivery and professional installation

Beautiful bowl shape Willy Guhl inspired mid century bowl planter. Huge. Provenance unknown. I picked this up from a midcentury dealer who used to have a vintage store in Darlo but now spends his time on the central coast. The patina and wear on it are beautiful. I had been keeping it for something special for about a year when I found this gorgeous, lush Bottle Tree specimen on the mid north coast of NSW and I knew I'd found the tree. You'll want ceilings about 3m high for this, or it can sit outside. 

ARCHITECTURAL FORM & HERITAGE

Native to the semi-arid climates west of the Great Dividing Range, the Queensland Bottle Tree (Brachychiton rupestris) is an architectural specimen defined by its swollen, water-storing caudex. In the wild, these sculptural trees reach up to 20 meters, exhibiting a semi-deciduous nature where they gracefully shed their narrow foliage in late September before beautifully regenerating with vibrant new growth in mid-October. A vital resource for Indigenous Australians, the tree has long been used to tap stored water during drought, harvest seeds and roots for sustenance, and process its fibrous inner bark into nets and twine.

PLACEMENT & LIGHT

Highly adaptable to both interior and exterior spaces.

• Indoors: Position in a room that receives bright, natural ambient light throughout the day.

• Outdoors: The tree thrives in part shade to full sun.

SEASONAL CARE & WATERING

To cultivate the Brachychiton rupestris is to mimic the rhythms of its natural environment west of the Great Dividing Range: a distinct cycle of deluge followed by dry warmth. Care should reflect nature; allow the tree to experience a generous watering that saturates the root ball, followed by a period of complete drying out to simulate natural sun and drainage.

• Indoors: Slowly water the entire root ball every 10–14 days from late spring to early autumn, tailoring the frequency to the ambient humidity, airflow, and light levels of your specific space. In winter, reduce watering to every 3–4 weeks. Always empty drainage saucers after 30 minutes to prevent root rot in the well-draining soil.

• Outdoors (Full Sun): Water daily throughout summer, ensuring excellent pot drainage. Reduce watering to every 2–4 weeks during winter, adjusting for natural rainfall.

Note on Botanical Behaviour: The Brachychiton rupestris is a semi-deciduous tree, meaning it will lose a lot of its leaves in late September before regenerating in mid-October.

NOURISHMENT & FERTILIZING

To sustain its architectural silhouette and encourage lush canopy regeneration, nourish the tree sparingly. Mimicking the natural influx of seasonal nutrients, apply a premium, controlled-release native fertilizer formulated with low phosphorus at the onset of spring and again in mid-summer. Cease all feeding during the autumn and winter dormancy, allowing the tree to rest.

DELIVERY & LOGISTICS

Please contact us prior to purchase if there are any major barriers to delivery at your property (including stairs or lift size constraints), as these architectural pieces require specialist handling and may incur increased delivery costs.