Benefits of Using Deciduous Trees in Australian Gardens

What deciduous trees deliver that evergreens cannot. Seasonal change, winter sun, summer shade and serious autumn colour.

AcerAutumn ColourCrepe MyrtleDeciduous TreesGinkgoLiquidambarPyrus

Deciduous trees give Australian gardens something evergreens cannot. Summer shade plus winter sun, seasonal change you actually notice, and the autumn colour show. Five deciduous trees that earn their space.

What deciduous trees deliver

Cool dense canopy in summer when you want shade, bare branches in winter when you want sun. Spring flowers or new leaves, autumn colour to finish. The garden tells you what month it is.

Japanese Maple autumn colour

Acer palmatum, Japanese Maple

Compact size, brilliant autumn colour, sculptural form. The classic small garden deciduous.

Lagerstroemia indica Natchez

White summer flowers, autumn colour, cinnamon winter bark. A four season tree.

Snow Pear silver foliage

Pyrus nivalis, Snow Pear

Silver foliage and pure white spring blossom. A designer favourite at compact scale.

Ginkgo biloba

Butter yellow autumn on clean fan shaped leaves. Long lived and pest free.

Liquidambar autumn colour

Liquidambar styraciflua, Sweetgum

The longest autumn colour show. Star shaped leaves over several weeks.

Planning around deciduous trees

Place them on the north and west of outdoor living for summer shade and winter sun. Allow space for mature spread.

FAQ

Do they suit warmer climates? Yes, Crepe Myrtle and Sweetgum perform well into northern NSW and southern QLD.

When is autumn colour best? Late April to early June in cool climates, May to July in warmer zones.

1. Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple)

Japanese Maple delivers the strongest small scale autumn colour of any deciduous tree. Palmate leaves move through orange, red and burgundy.

Type: Deciduous feature tree
Height: 3 to 5 metres
Width: 2 to 4 metres
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Palmate, brilliant autumn colour
Form: Layered horizontal
Conditions: Part shade, moist well drained soils
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Courtyards, feature planting, autumn colour

Why choose it

Compact size plus serious autumn colour.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Magnolia Coolwyn Gloss as an evergreen backdrop.

Tips for planting

Avoid hot afternoon sun. Mulch well.

Small footprint, big colour.

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2. Lagerstroemia indica Natchez (Natchez Crepe Myrtle)

Natchez Crepe Myrtle delivers four season interest. White summer flowers, autumn colour, cinnamon winter bark, fresh spring growth.

Type: Deciduous feature tree
Height: 5 to 7 metres
Width: 3 to 5 metres
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Green summer, orange red autumn
Flowers: White summer panicles
Form: Vase shape multi stemmed
Conditions: Full sun, well drained soils
Maintenance: Light winter prune
Best for: Summer flowering, feature tree, winter bark

Why choose it

Genuine four season tree at suburban scale.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Magnolia grandiflora as evergreen weight.

Tips for planting

Lift lower branches to expose the bark in winter.

Four seasons of interest.

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3. Pyrus nivalis (Snow Pear)

Snow Pear carries silvery foliage and masses of pure white spring blossom. One of the most distinctive deciduous trees you can plant in a designer garden.

Type: Deciduous feature tree
Height: 6 to 8 metres
Width: 4 to 5 metres
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Silvery green, butter yellow autumn
Flowers: Masses of white spring blossom
Form: Upright vase
Conditions: Full sun, most soils
Maintenance: Light winter prune
Best for: Designer feature trees, avenue planting, courtyards

Why choose it

Silver foliage is rare in trees, combined with masses of white blossom.

Perfect pair

Pair with a clipped Bay Tree base layer for a designer planting.

Tips for planting

Stake until trunk thickens.

A designer favourite for good reason.

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4. Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair Tree)

Ginkgo is one of the longest lived trees in cultivation and delivers brilliant butter yellow autumn colour on clean fan shaped leaves.

Type: Deciduous feature tree
Height: 10 to 20 metres
Width: 6 to 10 metres
Growth rate: Slow to moderate
Foliage: Fan shaped, butter yellow autumn
Form: Upright with broad mature crown
Conditions: Full sun, well drained soils
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Long term feature trees, formal entries

Why choose it

Pest free, long lived, brilliant late autumn colour.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Magnolia Little Gem as an evergreen counterpoint.

Tips for planting

Buy a grafted male to avoid the messy fruit.

A long term investment tree.

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5. Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum)

Sweetgum delivers the longest autumn colour window of any deciduous tree we grow. Star shaped leaves move through burgundy, scarlet and gold over several weeks.

Type: Deciduous feature tree
Height: 15 to 20 metres
Width: 8 to 12 metres
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Star shaped, multi colour autumn
Form: Tall upright pyramidal
Conditions: Full sun, deep moist soils
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Large gardens, parks, autumn colour features

Why choose it

Long autumn colour window, strong vertical structure.

Perfect pair

Pair with an evergreen Magnolia Coolwyn Gloss to hold structure when leaves drop.

Tips for planting

Allow generous root run. Water through the first two summers.

The autumn colour benchmark.

Shop Liquidambar styraciflua

Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Acer palmatum Japanese Maple	3 to 5 metres	2 to 4 metres	Layered horizontal	Palmate, brilliant autumn colour	Courtyards, feature planting, autumn colour
Lagerstroemia indica Natchez Natchez Crepe Myrtle	5 to 7 metres	3 to 5 metres	Vase shape multi stemmed	Green summer, orange red autumn	Summer flowering, feature tree, winter bark
Pyrus nivalis Snow Pear	6 to 8 metres	4 to 5 metres	Upright vase	Silvery green, butter yellow autumn	Designer feature trees, avenue planting, courtyards
Ginkgo biloba Maidenhair Tree	10 to 20 metres	6 to 10 metres	Upright with broad mature crown	Fan shaped, butter yellow autumn	Long term feature trees, formal entries
Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum	15 to 20 metres	8 to 12 metres	Tall upright pyramidal	Star shaped, multi colour autumn	Large gardens, parks, autumn colour features