Selecting Trees for Colour Contrast in the Landscape

Colour contrast is what makes a planting come alive. Five trees that hold defined colours through the seasons, and how to combine them.

Colour ContrastEditorialFeature TreesGarden Design

A garden of one green disappears into itself. A garden that uses colour contrast on purpose has rhythm, movement and presence.

Five trees with strong defined colours and notes on how to combine them.

The basic colour moves

Dark against light. Burgundy foliage in front of silver-blue, or against pale pink blossom. Cool against warm. Silver foliage against gold autumn colour. Solid against airy. A dense Magnolia against a weeping Eucalypt.

Burgundy Japanese Maple

Holds dark burgundy from spring to autumn. The textbook dark accent for a colour scheme.

Forest Pansy

Burgundy foliage plus pink spring flowers, layered colour on one tree.

Ginkgo

Pure gold autumn colour. The anchor when you want a brilliant warm note.

Black Tulip Magnolia

The darkest Magnolia in cultivation. Deep burgundy tulip flowers in early spring.

Silver Princess Gum

Silver-blue weeping foliage and pink pendant flowers. The cool side of the palette.

Combining the colours

Silver Princess and Atropurpureum Maple, classic cool versus dark. Ginkgo behind a Black Tulip Magnolia, gold against burgundy. Forest Pansy in front of a pale stucco wall, dark against light.

Where to use colour contrast

Use it where the eye lands. Front entry. View from the kitchen window. End of a path. A single high-contrast pairing in the right spot does more work than five competing colours scattered across a whole garden.

1. Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum' (Burgundy Japanese Maple)

Deep burgundy foliage all season, providing serious dark contrast against silver and lime greens.

Type: Deciduous feature tree
Height: 3 to 5m
Width: 3 to 4m
Growth rate: Slow to moderate
Foliage: Burgundy-purple, scarlet in autumn
Form: Layered horizontal
Conditions: Part shade, sheltered, moist well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Dark accent in mixed plantings, focal point trees

Why choose it

Holds dark colour from spring through autumn with almost no work.

Perfect pair

Pair an Atropurpureum feature with a Eucalyptus Silver Princess for dark and silver contrast.

Tips for planting

Shelter from afternoon sun in hot climates

The dark backbone of a colour scheme.

Shop Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'

2. Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' (Forest Pansy)

Heart-shaped burgundy leaves and pink spring flowers, layered colour on one tree.

Type: Deciduous understorey tree
Height: 4 to 6m
Width: 3 to 5m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Burgundy heart-shaped, turning orange in autumn
Flowers: Rosy pink on bare stems early spring
Form: Spreading
Conditions: Part shade, moist well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Burgundy plus pink colour schemes, dappled corners

Why choose it

Two-tone colour from one tree.

Perfect pair

Pair a Forest Pansy understorey with a Ginkgo feature for burgundy and gold autumn contrast.

Tips for planting

Shelter from direct afternoon sun.

Quiet drama, layered colour.

Shop Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'

3. Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair Tree)

Pure gold autumn colour that lifts every surrounding tree in the scheme.

Type: Deciduous feature tree
Height: 10 to 20m
Width: 6 to 8m
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Fan-shaped, mid-green, brilliant yellow in autumn
Form: Upright with age
Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Very low
Best for: Gold autumn anchor in mixed colour schemes

Why choose it

Unmatched autumn yellow, sets off burgundy and red plantings.

Perfect pair

Pair a Ginkgo feature with an Acer Atropurpureum for high-contrast autumn colour.

Tips for planting

Choose a male cultivar to avoid fruit drop

Autumn gold that anchors the scheme.

Shop Ginkgo biloba

4. Magnolia x soulangeana 'Black Tulip' (Black Tulip Magnolia)

Velvety deep burgundy tulip flowers, the darkest Magnolia in cultivation.

Type: Deciduous flowering tree
Height: 4 to 5m
Width: 2 to 3m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Mid-green, soft yellow autumn
Flowers: Deep burgundy tulip flowers in early spring
Form: Upright vase
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, moist well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Burgundy and pink spring colour schemes

Why choose it

Deepest, darkest Magnolia flower for serious contrast against white and pale spring blossom.

Perfect pair

Pair a Black Tulip feature with a Pyrus nivalis backdrop for white-and-burgundy spring drama.

Tips for planting

Shelter from late frosts to protect the flowers

Spring colour at its most dramatic.

Shop Magnolia x soulangeana 'Black Tulip'

5. Eucalyptus caesia 'Silver Princess' (Silver Princess Gum)

Silver-blue weeping foliage and pink pendant flowers, a high-contrast native feature.

Type: Evergreen native flowering tree
Height: 6 to 8m
Width: 3 to 4m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Silver-blue weeping
Flowers: Pink to red pendant flowers winter to spring
Form: Weeping
Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil, drought hardy
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Silver accent in colour-led schemes

Why choose it

Silver-blue foliage sets off burgundy, dark and lime-green plantings.

Perfect pair

Pair a Silver Princess with an Acer Atropurpureum for silver and burgundy contrast.

Tips for planting

Stake young trees. Avoid heavy summer watering

Native silver with serious presence.

Shop Eucalyptus caesia 'Silver Princess'

Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum' Burgundy Japanese Maple	3 to 5m	3 to 4m	Layered horizontal	Burgundy-purple, scarlet in autumn	Dark accent in mixed plantings, focal point trees
Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' Forest Pansy	4 to 6m	3 to 5m	Spreading	Burgundy heart-shaped, turning orange in autumn	Burgundy plus pink colour schemes, dappled corners
Ginkgo biloba Maidenhair Tree	10 to 20m	6 to 8m	Upright with age	Fan-shaped, mid-green, brilliant yellow in autumn	Gold autumn anchor in mixed colour schemes
Magnolia x soulangeana 'Black Tulip' Black Tulip Magnolia	4 to 5m	2 to 3m	Upright vase	Mid-green, soft yellow autumn	Burgundy and pink spring colour schemes
Eucalyptus caesia 'Silver Princess' Silver Princess Gum	6 to 8m	3 to 4m	Weeping	Silver-blue weeping	Silver accent in colour-led schemes