Fire Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius)

close up branches of the fire tree

Although we can find numerous and different kinds of trees globally, The truth is that some of them tend to stand out for being more impressive compared to others, this is due to the beauty and characteristics they possess and, a clear example turns out to be the fire tree.

The fire tree, whose scientific name is Brachychiton acerifolius, It is an arboreal species native to Australia, exactly from the subtropical regions on the east coast.

Fire tree characteristics

red and flared flowers

He stands out for be considered among the most beautiful tropical trees that exist around the world; And it is that during the spring, before the birth of its leaves, it has incredible and beautiful yellow and red flowers, which look like flames of a fire.

The fire tree consists of a specimen whose height, in general, is around 8-15mts, despite the fact that your species is capable of growing about 40mts., maximum; we can also point out that the species of brachychitonIt only occurs within its habitat of origin and apart from growing with great speed, it is also usually quite long-lived.

It has various kinds of leaves that vary in length, which fall when the weather becomes drier; however, they grow again not long after, and even before flowering occurs, when the essential rainy season approaches.

It should be noted that when the Brachychiton is exposed to very long periods of droughts, it can experience premature aging and even die. In relation to its flowering, we can say that occurs exactly during spring and little by little he prepares for when the summer season arrives and the rains begin.

Likewise, among the main attributes that the fire tree possesses, the great beauty of its flowers stands out, since they are not only abundant and large, but also have a tonality that, as we already mentioned, varies between yellow and red.

As well It should be noted that the flowers of this specimen could have a flared shape, normally having five petals whose measurements usually vary. For their part, both the fruits and the seeds they offer have very particular characteristics, which we will talk about in greater detail later.

The roots that it has in its trunk have a grayish tone and it is possible that they reach several meters in length around the earth where they are. Its bark has sizes, which go through completely smooth areas to others that are cracked as a result of the branches that have detached.

It is usually used as ornamental specimen in gardens, parks, squares and also on public walks not only because of the beautiful tonality of its flowering, but also because of the pyramidal shape that its glass tends to acquire over time.

Properties

The fire tree is not only known for its great beauty, but also stands out for having medicinal properties, which allow it to be considerably more desirable and worth cultivating. But so that you can learn a little more about these properties, below we will talk about the more specific ones:

It is usually used in order to combat different conditions in the respiratory system; In addition, various studies support its use as a complementary treatment for severe diseases such as tuberculosis, for example, as well as different viruses.

fire tree or Brachychiton acerifolius

It is frequently used as a treatment for rheumatic ailments, for which it is applied to the affected areas, a type of maceration of its bark. It is normal to boil your flower to prepare infusions or a tea In order to treat both respiratory problems, it is also very effective to control and / or get rid of certain mollusks, for example, snails and slugs, which are usually common pests in the agricultural sector.

What about diseases?

Fortunately, the fire tree does not present a great risk of contamination or get sick from the presence of pests. However, in certain cases it is possible that it presents a greater vulnerability to certain insects, although they could be easily and effectively treated using commercial pesticides.

Care

The fire tree is usually cultivated globally due to the beauty it has, as well as for being a long-lived specimen that grows quickly. It is characterized by preferring loose, deep and fertile soils regardless of their nature; however, it is not usually able to resist in saline soils.

During the summer it requires abundant watering; although among its main advantages it stands out that it has low maintenance, since it is practically not necessary to prune it and just remove its damaged, dead or diseased branches.

The most convenient thing is to cultivate it in a sandy soil or that is clayey in its defect, which has an optimal drainage that allows to regulate the humidity throughout the first years after planting.

tree with branches and red leaves called Brachychiton acerifolius

The most advisable is use organic compostHowever, it is equally possible to use other kinds of allowanceAlthough it will always be advisable for the fertilizer used to have high Nitrogen levels, since it is an extremely beneficial element for this tree.

Allow at least two months from the time of cultivation before starting to apply the fertilizer. It is usually convenient to apply the fertilizer in the early hours of the day, and after the day apply it again along with abundant watering.

The most appropriate is usually to water at least every two days, depending on the climate to which the tree is exposed, at a specific time, and according to that measure. it will be necessary to decrease or increase the frequency. But under no circumstances should the frequency be excessively increased, since excess humidity is of little benefit to this specimen.

In order to ensure its conservation, it is necessary to provide certain care, starting with the climatic conditions. In this way, making sure you get sunlight frequently is essential and do not grow it in a cold or temperate climate, otherwise it could die. It will have to be located in a spacious area and within a healthy land, which allows it to grow naturally without any kind of difficulties.

It is essential that the organic material used has the temperature conditions that we have previously indicated, that is, that it is kept in a sufficiently warm area and free of humidity.


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