Brachychiton discolor

Highfields Pink is a selected form of the lacebark, grafted for a deeper, larger flower than the species. The bells open on bare branches through high summer above pale, finely fissured bark, and because the stock is grafted the colour and the flowering age are consistent from tree to tree.

In the landscape

A street and shade tree of real substance, with a rounded canopy and roots that behave near paving and services. Effective as an avenue at 8–10 m centres, as a shade tree over lawn, or as a screen when planted in a run. The pale lacy bark and grey-green foliage sit well against dark rendered or timber facades, and the flowering happens on bare branches in high summer, when little else of this scale is in colour.

Growing notes

Deciduous around flowering, dropping its downy grey-green lobed leaves before the bells open from November to January. Suited to Queensland, coastal and inland New South Wales, and warm Victorian districts; tolerant of moderate frost, pollution, coastal exposure and tropical heat. Fast growing in most soils with reasonable drainage, reaching about 10–20 m tall by 6–10 m wide in the ground. Grafted trees flower earlier and more reliably than seedling lacebark. Hardy and drought tolerant once established.

This tree

• Height: 7.5–8.5 m
• Canopy width: 5.0–5.5 m
• Caliper: 250–330 mm
• Currently standing: 12 trees

Field-grown ex-ground at Ravensbourne Farm, root-pruned and basket-lifted, delivered and craned Australia-wide. Price on application through the Shortlist.