Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Brachychiton acerifolius (A. Cunn. ex G. Don) Macarthur

Synonyms

Sterculia acerifolia A. Cunn. ex G. Don

Family

Sterculiaceae

Common Names

Australian flametree, flame bottletree, flame kurrajong, flame tree, flametree, Illawarra flame tree, Illawarra flametree

Origin

Native to some parts of eastern Australia (i.e. the coastal and sub-coastal districts of Queensland and some parts of eastern New South Wales).

Naturalised Distribution

Naturalised beyond its native range in New South Wales and naturalised on Lord Howe Island. Possibly also naturalised in south-eastern South Australia.

Notes

This species is regarded as an environmental weed in those parts of New South Wales that are beyond its native range. Flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius ) occurs naturally in sub-tropical rainforest along the New South Wales coast, north from the Shoalhaven River, but because of extensive cultivation it has become established in habitats and parts of New South Wales that it did not naturally occupy.

For example, it is regarded as an environmental weed in many parts of the wider Sydney and Blue Mountains region (i.e. in non-rainforest areas). It is also an emerging weed in the southern parts of the New South Wales south coast (i.e. south of the Shoalhaven River).