The Australian bottle tree (bot. Brachychiton rupestris) is usually sold as a lucky tree in this country, which has a high ornamental value due to its bizarre growth and is also considered to be robust and easy to care for. It is not to be confused with the elephant's foot (bot. Beaucarnea recurvata), which is also known as the bottle tree, but which is a species from Central America.

It is not difficult to see why the lucky tree is also called the bottle tree

Table of Contents

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  1. origin and distribution
  2. use
  3. appearance and growth
  4. leaves, flowers and fruits
  5. toxicity
  6. Which location is suitable?
  7. substrate and drainage
  8. Water the lucky tree
  9. Fertilize the lucky tree properly
  10. Properly cut the lucky tree
  11. Propagate lucky tree
  12. hibernate
  13. diseases and pests
  14. species and varieties

    15. origin and distribution

    We offer the Australian bottle tree (bot. Brachychiton rupestris) under the trivial name Glücksbaum. This species, which belongs to the sterculaceae family and grows up to 25 meters high in its natural habitat, is related to the cocoa tree, but originally comes from Australia. The evergreen tree with the bizarre appearance is particularly widespread in the Australian state of Queensland - and has proven to be extremely useful for thousands of years. The succulent plant stores water in its trunk, which hikers can use as a drinking water reservoir in dry seasons or emergencies. In addition, parts of plants such as the seeds, leaves and roots are traditionally prepared as food by the native Aborigines.

    Specimens available as houseplants in this country do not come from Australia, but mainly from Israeli breeding. Furthermore, the elephant's foot, which is also popular as a houseplant, is also known as the bottle tree, but this tree, which comes from the dry forests of Central America, is a succulent species from the Beaucarnea genus within the asparagus family (bot. Asparagaceae).

    use

    Due to its origin, the lucky tree is not hardy here and can therefore only be cultivated in tubs. The plant can be kept very well as a houseplant all year round, but during the warm summer months it also feels very comfortable in a sunny and dry spot on the balcony or terrace.

    appearance and growth

    Botanically correctly known as the narrow-leaved bottle tree (bot. Brachychiton rupestris) or because of its origin as the Queensland bottle tree, the lucky tree belongs to the mallow family (bot. Malvaceae). In addition to the species, the genus of bottle trees (bot. Brachychiton) includes about 30 other species of very different growth and stature height. In addition to the bottle tree, the related Australian flame tree (bot. Brachychiton acerifolius) is also often cultivated as an ornamental plant.

    The succulent lucky tree has a bizarre growth, which is noticeable by a trunk that is up to about breast height up to 3.5 meters thick - of course only in its natural state, because in a bucket culture the tree, which grows between 10 and 25 meters high, remains significantly smaller at about two meters . However, it can also grow quite large in the living room, which often only becomes apparent some time after the purchase: Since the plants are planted in particularly narrow pots and treated with growth-inhibiting agents before they are sold, in many cases they start to get heavy after the first repotting grow.

    leaves, flowers and fruits

    The green leaves are simple or divided and have one or more leaf blades that can be up to eleven centimeters long and two centimeters wide. The cream-colored flowers appear in their natural habitat between September and November, but are rarely formed indoors. The oblong fruits ripen from November to May.

    toxicity

    The species Brachychiton rupestris is considered non-toxic and can therefore be safely cultivated in households with small children and pets.

    Which location is suitable?

    The native region of the bottle tree is subtropical to tropical Australia, where it can rain heavily during the rainy season - but this is always followed by a long dry period. The trees tolerate brief light frost down to about minus seven degrees Celsius. The lucky tree feels most comfortable in a location that is as sunny and warm as possible and protected from drafts and cold rain. In the apartment, the bottle tree belongs directly on a sunny window, which is as south-facing as possible. If, on the other hand, the plant is further in the room or there is no south-facing window, additional lighting can compensate for the lack of light.

    If you want to cultivate the plant in the winter in the living room and during the summer months outdoors, you should slowly and gradually get used to the new location in the garden or on the terrace/balcony from around the end of May. Do not leave them outside overnight, but put them back into the living room at least overnight for the first few days. In very exposed locations, you should also not immediately expose the lucky tree to the blazing sun - especially at midday - as this often leads to damage from sunburn. Here, too, it makes sense to gradually get used to the new location.

    substrate and drainage

    Cactus soil has proven to be well suited to the special needs of the succulent lucky tree. You can also mix this yourself from humus soil and coarse sand. In addition to a well-drained substrate, reliable pot drainage is also important, since the plant, which is native to drought regions, does not tolerate waterlogging. The planter should therefore have a drainage hole on the bottom of the pot so that excess water can be removed promptly. You can also fill in a one to two centimeter thick layer of expanded clay (€19.73) at the bottom, which ensures the necessary water drainage.

    Water the lucky tree

    The main principle when watering the lucky tree is: Better to keep it dry than moist! After all, it comes from a plant from very dry regions, which is why the bottle-shaped base of the trunk has developed as a water reservoir in the course of adapting to the environment. Therefore, only water moderately during the hot summer months, and even very little during the cold season. Instead, the bottle tree tolerates short periods of dryness very well, which is why holiday care is basically not necessary. During particularly hot days, do your plant a favor by misting its leaves with a fine pollinator.

    Fertilize the lucky tree properly

    Between April and September you should provide the lucky tree with a liquid fertilizer for green or house plants every two weeks, which you administer together with the irrigation water. Dose the nutrients moderately, however, as over-fertilization can quickly weaken the tree. After transplanting in spring, fertilization can be omitted for a few weeks if you use pre-fertilized substrate.

    Properly cut the lucky tree

    The lucky tree does not need to be cut back. You can only carefully remove brown leaves from time to time. In principle, however, pruning is possible by removing the shoot tips of the tree. On the other hand, if you just let it grow without reaching for the scissors, the plant will sometimes flower after a few years, displaying pretty pink bell-shaped flowers.
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    Propagate lucky tree

    The easiest way to propagate the lucky tree is to use cuttings that you cut in the spring:

    • Cut off shoot tips about ten centimeters long.
    • Dip the cut ends in a rooting powder.
    • Plant the cuttings individually in pots with growing substrate.
    • Always keep this slightly moist.
    • Stretch a translucent film over the pot.
    • Alternatively, cultivate the cuttings under glass.
    • This keeps the air evenly moist, which promotes root growth.
    • However, ventilate daily.
    • Transplant the young lucky trees into cactus soil as soon as the first new shoots appear.

    Alternatively, you can also purchase seeds from specialist retailers and use them for your own sowing. However, it is important to have patience and a lot of tact.

    hibernate

    During the winter months, the bottle tree benefits from a resting phase at around 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, when it stops growing and only needs a little water. Therefore, from around September, slowly reduce the amount of water and finally only water the plant in small sips. Do not fertilize the lucky tree at all during this time and only start applying fertilizer again when the first new shoots appear. Basically, a warm hibernation in the living room is possible, but then often thin, weak horny shoots form.

    diseases and pests

    The lucky tree is a real beginner's tree, after all, the undemanding plant doesn't take offense to care mistakes that easily. The only problem is waterlogging, which is why you should always fill in a thick drainage layer on the bottom of the pot when repotting. Ideally, this consists of expanded clay or pebbles. In addition, excess water should never be left in the cachepot or saucer. If the tips of the leaves are brown, the humidity is too low. You increase it simply by spraying the lucky tree with an atomizer.

    tips

    The lucky tree can also be trained very well as a bonsai. As such, the plant works particularly well with its twisting roots, which develop through the typical attitude in shallow bowls.

    species and varieties

    In addition to the Australian bottle tree, the money or penny tree (bot. Crassula ovata) is often sold under the name lucky tree. This thick-leaved plant from South Africa is a popular, easy-care houseplant and can grow up to one meter high when cultivated well.

    Externally quite similar is the elephant's foot (bot. Beaucarnea recurvata), which, however, comes from Mexico and is also often referred to as the bottle tree - but is not related to the Australian bottle tree. The elephant's foot is also very robust, long-lasting and the ideal plant for beginners.

    On the other hand, if you are looking for something special, then the flame tree (bot. Delonix regia), also known as flamboyant, could be the right houseplant for you. The tree, which comes from Madagascar, impresses with its bright red sea of flowers, to which it also owes its name. The Australian flame tree (bot. Brachychiton bidwilii or Brachychiton acerifolius) also develops a magnificent red flower and is very suitable for pot cultivation.

    What all the species listed here have in common is that they are easy-care succulents that do not die immediately, even if they are absent for a long time.

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Trees