Lacebark Tree

Lacebark trees are full of striking features.

Lacebark trees are semi-deciduous trees, native to dry rainforests of eastern Australia in parts of New South Wales and Queensland, and are closely related to the Queensland Bottle Tree, the Illawarra Flame Tree and other kurrajong species.
Lacebark trees are medium sized and can grow up to 30 metres (98 feet) in height, but they are usually shorter than this.
The lacebark tree comes from the family Malvaceae, the family of mallows, and its scientific name is Brachychiton discolor, ‘discolor’ referring to the leaves that are dark green on the top side and a much lighter colour on the underside.
Lacebark trees have flowers, fruit, twigs and leaves covered in dense hairs that are fuzzy like felt.
Lacebark trees are usually planted for decorative purposes, are drought tolerant, frost resistant and grow best in full sun.

Lacebark trees bloom during summer months and the flowers are coloured pink and technically do not have petals, but rather sepals that look like petals.
Lacebark tree fruits, or seedpods, grow to be 7 to 20 centimetres (2.8 to 7.9 inches) in length, and hold up to 30 seeds that are approximately 9 millimetres (0.35 inches) in length.
The wood of lacebark trees can be used in woodwork, and have been traditionally used for making indigenous Australian shields.
The seeds of lacebark trees can be roasted and eaten, and the hairs in the pods can cause irritation to human skin.
‘Lacebark trees’ are so called due to the markings on the bark, especially as the tree ages, and they are also known as ‘scrub bottle trees’, ‘pink flame trees’, ‘hat trees’, ‘Queensland lacebarks’, ‘sycamores’, ‘pink kurrajongs’, ‘white kurrajongs’, ‘lace kurrajongs’ ‘lacebark kurrajongs’ and ‘bush kurrajongs’.

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