RE: Brachychiton acerifolius

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Hi Barry,

Yea! We have an email to the group.  It’s been too long.

We have them here in hot San Jose and they do well.  I’ve seen them all over SoCal but not right along the ocean  - I think.  Perhaps someone from that area knows. I’ve seen it in the parking lot at Lotusland which is pretty close to the ocean in terms of climate but I don’t know about soils.

As for other ideas, http://selectree.cagr.calpoly.edu has a good sized database that might be helpful.

Many medit climate plants require clay alkaline soils except those that require acid soils.  J

Cheers,

Bracey

Hi folks!

We may be moving to a new house in the same town soon, and as it has no trees on the property, I began to think of what might be a neat tree to plant. So, my interest has wandered over to Brachychiton acerifolius. Now, I have some questions about this tree. First, would it do well in a Sunset zone 17 climate? Our average warmest temperature is around 63F/17C. It's overcast or foggy most of the Summer here an we get frequent ocean wind. I wouldn't want to plant it if it's going to grow stunted and miserable. Second, how hardy is it? Winter lows here may dip to 28F/2C once or twice. If it would do fine in this climate, for those who live around the bay area of Northern California, are there any nurseries around the bay that sell it?

If this is not the tree for the area, what  interesting, but fast growing trees would you suggest for this area that don't get enormous and can handle sand? I'd like to avoid conifers, Eucalyptus, and temperate spring flowering trees if possible (all VERY common here), with a preference to South African, Australian, New Zealand, or South American trees.


Thank you!