5 Trees That Add Stunning Autumn Colour

Five trees for the best autumn colour in Australian gardens. October Glory Maple, Japanese Maple, Ginkgo, Snow Pear and Sweet Gum.

autumn colourdeciduous treesginkgojapanese mapleliquidambaroctober glorysnow pear

Autumn colour pays off the rest of the year of looking at bare branches and green canopy. Pick the right mix and the garden runs through red, gold, orange and copper for 8-10 weeks.

Here are five trees we recommend at Evergreen Trees Direct for autumn drama.

FAQs

Compact options? Japanese Maple and Cercis Forest Pansy.

Pruning? Light winter prune only.

Maintenance? Low. Water through establishment then leave alone.

1. Acer rubrum 'October Glory' (October Glory Canadian Maple)

The most reliable red autumn foliage of any Canadian Maple. Brilliant scarlet for months.

Type: Deciduous tree
Height: 12-15m
Width: 8-10m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Bright green turning brilliant red
Form: Upright oval
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low.
Best for: Autumn colour, feature trees, large lawns

Why choose it

Holds vivid red for 4-6 weeks where other maples drop within days. Reliable in most Australian climates.

Perfect pair

Pair October Glory with a Magnolia Little Gem hedge for evergreen backbone.

Tips for planting

Plant in autumn. Mulch heavily. Water through summer.

The longest red autumn season of any tree.

Shop Acer rubrum 'October Glory'

2. Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple)

Compact deciduous feature with the most refined autumn palette of any small tree.

Type: Deciduous tree
Height: 4-6m
Width: 3-4m
Growth rate: Slow to moderate
Foliage: Palmate, brilliant autumn colour
Form: Layered, open
Conditions: Part shade, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low.
Best for: Small autumn feature, courtyards

Why choose it

Smaller scale than Canadian Maple but with the same colour intensity. Fits any sized garden.

Perfect pair

Pair Acer palmatum with a Magnolia Little Gem hedge for evergreen structure.

Tips for planting

Shelter from drying winds. Mulch heavily. Water consistently through summer.

Refined autumn drama at small scale.

Shop Acer palmatum

3. Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair Tree)

Brilliant gold autumn foliage with fan-shaped leaves.

Type: Deciduous tree
Height: 12-15m
Width: 6-8m
Growth rate: Slow to moderate
Foliage: Fan-shaped, brilliant yellow in autumn
Form: Pyramidal when young, spreading with age
Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low.
Best for: Autumn gold, specimen trees

Why choose it

Pure gold for several weeks before the whole tree drops in 24 hours, carpeting the ground in gold.

Perfect pair

Pair Ginkgo with an October Glory for red and gold.

Tips for planting

Choose male trees only. Plant in autumn. Water through year one.

The cleanest gold of any tree.

Shop Ginkgo biloba

4. Pyrus nivalis (Snow Pear)

Silver foliage turns coppery orange in autumn, often persisting into winter.

Type: Deciduous tree
Height: 7-10m
Width: 5-7m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Silver-grey turning copper-orange
Form: Pyramidal
Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil, frost tolerant
Maintenance: Low.
Best for: Autumn colour, silver feature trees

Why choose it

Rare combination of silver summer foliage and copper autumn. Long-lasting colour.

Perfect pair

Pair Snow Pear with a Murraya hedge for layered structure.

Tips for planting

Full sun for best colour. Water through summer. Winter prune for shape.

Silver to copper across the seasons.

Shop Pyrus nivalis

5. Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum)

Star-shaped foliage in vivid reds, purples and oranges through autumn.

Type: Deciduous tree
Height: 15-25m
Width: 10-15m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Star-shaped, multi-colour autumn
Form: Pyramidal when young, spreading with age
Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low.
Best for: Large autumn feature, deep shade in summer

Why choose it

The longest autumn colour show of any tree. Reds, purples and oranges all on one tree.

Perfect pair

Pair Liquidambar with a Murraya hedge for layered structure.

Tips for planting

Allow 12m for spread. Water through year one. Light winter prune.

Autumn drama at its biggest.

Shop Liquidambar styraciflua

Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Acer rubrum 'October Glory' October Glory Canadian Maple	12-15m	8-10m	Upright oval	Bright green turning brilliant red	Autumn colour, feature trees, large lawns
Acer palmatum Japanese Maple	4-6m	3-4m	Layered, open	Palmate, brilliant autumn colour	Small autumn feature, courtyards
Ginkgo biloba Maidenhair Tree	12-15m	6-8m	Pyramidal when young, spreading with age	Fan-shaped, brilliant yellow in autumn	Autumn gold, specimen trees
Pyrus nivalis Snow Pear	7-10m	5-7m	Pyramidal	Silver-grey turning copper-orange	Autumn colour, silver feature trees
Liquidambar styraciflua Sweet Gum	15-25m	10-15m	Pyramidal when young, spreading with age	Star-shaped, multi-colour autumn	Large autumn feature, deep shade in summer