Brachychiton is a genus of 30 or more species, placed in the Malvaceae family, most of which occur in tropical parts of Australia in dry areas or in rainforest. They are large shrubs or trees. One of the most commonly cultivated is the Illawarra flame tree, Brachychiton acerifolius, which is popular due to its spectacular crimson flowers. The Kurrajong, Brachychiton populneus, is one of the most widely distributed and is also a common tree in cultivation.

Brachychiton populneus, commonly called Kurrajong, is a native to eastern Australia with much value in cultivation. Plants are tolerant of dry conditions, easy to propagate and have many interesting features. The beautiful flowers are bell-shaped and whitish in color with the inner flower tube streaked purple-brown. They are very attractive to bees. Seeds are borne within woody, boat-shaped fruit 1-7 cm long and are surrounded by fine hairs that can cause skin and eye irritation. Juvenile plants, which display attractive lobed leaves and swollen taproots, make good pot-plants or bonsai specimens. They are tolerant of dry and pot-bound conditions and respond well to pruning. Trees are typically stout with glossy-green foliage. It is said that the ground-up seeds can be brewed into a coffee substitute or added to bread. The swollen, carrot-like taproot is a nutritious and agreeable vegetable and the gum that the tree exudes is also edible. The fiber taken from the stem has been used in twine and netting manufacture.