Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Bottle Tree
Bottle Tree is an evergreen shade tree from Australia with a thick trunk that swells at the base like a bottle. Its glossy, poplar-like leaves stay on all year, and cream bell-shaped flowers with spotted throats show up in late spring. It grows into an upright tree 30 to 50 feet tall. Once rooted, it gets by on little water.
Best for: year-round shade on little water, a bold vertical accent with a swollen trunk, and large yards and parks.
Its glossy leaves stay on all year, so it shades a yard or park in every season. Once rooted, a deep soak every few weeks in summer keeps it going.
The thick trunk flares at the base and gives the tree its name. Young trees are narrow and pyramid-shaped, then spread with age to 15 to 30 feet wide.
It grows into a tall tree, so give it open ground at least 20 feet from other trees. It suits big yards, parks and long frontages.
Woody seed pods hang on and drop over time, and the fine hairs inside can irritate skin. It is prone to Texas root rot in old farm soils, and hot west sun can scald the trunk.
- Trees in a group or row20 ft or more apart
- Single shade tree20 ft from other trees
For the first two weeks, water a new tree every 1 to 2 days in summer, or every 3 to 4 days in cooler months. Ease to about weekly by the second month, and keep up deep, regular soaks for its first 3 years. Once rooted, soak it 2 to 3 feet deep at the canopy edge about every 2 to 3 weeks in summer and about monthly in winter. Deep soaks in summer give the fullest canopy.
Take off the nursery stake at planting, and stake only if the tree cannot stand on its own or sits in a windy spot. Use two stakes outside the root ball and soft, wide ties that let the trunk sway. Remove them after about a year.
Lift the lower branches a little at a time as the tree grows, and never take more than a quarter of the canopy in a year. Keep enough leaves to shade the trunk from hot west sun.
Bottle trees are prone to Texas root rot, which is common in former farm fields. Plant in soil that drains well, and avoid overwatering.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does a bottle tree get?
It grows about 30 to 50 feet tall and 15 to 30 feet wide. Plant it in open ground with room to spread.
Why is it called a bottle tree?
Its trunk swells at the base, a bit like a bottle, and stores water. The swelling shows more as the tree ages.
Is it evergreen?
Yes. It keeps its glossy leaves all year, so it gives shade in winter too.
How much water does it need?
Once rooted it needs little water. A deep soak every 2 to 3 weeks in summer and about monthly in winter keeps it healthy, letting the soil dry between soaks.
How cold can it take?
It is rated to about 20°F. Cover young trees with frost cloth on the coldest nights.
Does it flower?
Yes. Cream bell-shaped flowers with spotted throats open in late spring. They are small but come in masses.
Are the seed pods messy?
The woody pods hang on the tree and drop over time. Fine hairs inside the pods can irritate skin, so wear gloves when you pick them up.
What problems does it have in Phoenix?
It is prone to Texas root rot in old farm soils, and the smooth trunk can scald in hot west sun. Plant it away from reflected west walls and in soil that drains.
Can it take full sun?
Yes, it wants full sun. Just keep the trunk from facing strong reflected heat off a west wall.
Bottle Tree for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Bottle Tree, also called kurrajong, is an evergreen Australian shade tree known for its swollen trunk. Below: size, water, cold, flowers, the woody seed pods and what to know before planting it in the Valley.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How big does a bottle tree get in Phoenix?
It grows about 30 to 50 feet tall and 15 to 30 feet wide. Young trees are narrow and upright, then spread with age.
Is bottle tree evergreen?
Yes. It keeps its glossy leaves all year, which makes it a year-round shade tree.
Bottle tree water needs in Arizona
It needs little water once rooted. Give it a deep soak every 2 to 3 weeks in summer and about monthly in winter.
Bottle tree seed pods
The woody pods hang on and drop over time. The hairs inside can irritate skin, so wear gloves to clean them up.
How cold hardy is bottle tree?
It is rated to about 20°F. Young trees need frost cloth on the coldest nights.
Where to plant a bottle tree
Plant it in full sun and open ground, at least 20 feet from other trees. Keep the trunk away from hot, reflected west walls.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.