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Top 10 Trees for Avenue and Driveway Planting

Top 10 Trees for Avenue and Driveway Planting

An avenue planting transforms an ordinary driveway into a grand arrival. Ten tree picks for uniform avenues from classic Bradford Pear to evergreen Magnolia Teddy Bear, plus spacing advice for that ribbon effect.
Avenue TreesDriveway TreesFeature TreesMagnoliaOrnamental Pears

A planted driveway sets the tone of a home from the street. Matched rows of well-chosen trees create the avenue effect that turns a driveway into an arrival moment and adds the kind of mature gravitas a new home doesn't have on its own.

The ten avenue picks below cover every common driveway brief — polished formal evergreens, tall Italian columns, modern natives, fast tall conifers, soft weeping screens and the classic deciduous shade alternatives.

  • Magnolia 'Coolwyn Gloss' — the polished formal Magnolia avenue. Mirror-glossy leaves and large fragrant white summer flowers.
  • Cupressus sempervirens 'Glauca' — the Italian Pencil Pine. Tall slender silver-blue Mediterranean columns.
  • Tristaniopsis 'Luscious' — the polished native avenue. Oversized glossy leaves and smooth cinnamon bark.
  • Ficus hillii — the dense formal evergreen. The cleanest knife-edge avenue face in the range.
  • Cupressus 'Leighton Green' — the tall fast conifer. Dense formal vertical avenue for grand driveways.
  • Waterhousea floribunda — the soft native weeping pick. Reads as informal native green against modern architecture.
  • Magnolia 'Little Gem' — the compact prolific-flowering Magnolia. Smaller scale than Coolwyn Gloss for tighter driveway widths.
  • Quercus palustris — the heritage deciduous shade. Pyramidal form, crimson autumn colour, long-lived avenue tree.
  • Platanus x acerifolia — the urban carbon workhorse. Fast biomass and the iconic flaking cream-and-grey trunk.
  • Ulmus parvifolia — the semi-deciduous shade alternative. Mottled bark, climate-adaptable, suburban-scale avenue.

Compare at a glance

CultivarHeightWidthFormFoliageBest if you…
Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat'
Aristocrat Ornamental Pear 		10-12m6-8mSymmetrical pyramidalGlossy green leaves turning crimson and burgundy in autumnDriveway avenues, formal entries
Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'
Bradford Ornamental Pear 		12-15m8mSymmetrical broad pyramidalLush green turning red-orange in autumnLong driveways, large entries, grand avenues
Pyrus nivalis
Snow Pear 		6-8m4-6mUpright roundedSilver-grey new growth maturing to soft greenSmaller driveways, cottage-style avenues
Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear'
Teddy Bear Magnolia 		4-5m2-2.5mTight pyramidalGlossy dark green with bronze undersideEvergreen avenues, narrow driveways, formal entries
Olea europaea 'Manzanillo'
Manzanillo Olive 		4-6m3-4mRounded sculpturalSilver-grey leaves year roundMediterranean-style driveways, hot blocks, hilltop entries
Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice'
Miles Choice Bay Tree 		4-6m1.5-2mUpright columnarDeep glossy green aromatic leavesNarrow driveways, formal entries, hedge avenues
Acer rubrum 'October Glory'
October Glory Maple 		10-12m6-8mSymmetrical pyramidalGreen summer leaves turning fiery scarlet in autumnCool climate driveways, autumn-show avenues
Acer rubrum 'Autumn Red'
Autumn Red Maple 		10-12m6-8mSymmetrical oval-pyramidalGreen summer turning brilliant red in autumnCool climate driveways, formal autumn avenues
Ulmus parvifolia 'Todd'
Todd Chinese Elm 		8-10m5-6mSpreading vase with mottled barkSmall glossy dark green leavesSuburban driveways, hot block avenues
Ginkgo biloba
Maidenhair Tree 		10-15m5-8mUpright pyramidalFan-shaped green leaves turning vivid yellow in autumnHeritage driveways, statement avenues, large blocks
Decide evergreen or deciduous
Evergreen avenues hold structure year round: Coolwyn Gloss, Pencil Pine, Tristaniopsis, Ficus hillii, Leighton Green, Waterhousea, Little Gem. Deciduous shade avenues give summer canopy plus seasonal change: Pin Oak, London Plane, Chinese Elm.
Match the architecture
Polished modern: Coolwyn Gloss, Tristaniopsis, Ficus hillii. Mediterranean: Pencil Pine. Classical heritage: Pin Oak, London Plane. Native modern: Tristaniopsis, Waterhousea.
Spacing
Plant in matched pairs at 4 to 6m centres for spreading evergreens and shade trees. Tighter (2 to 3m) for columnar species (Pencil Pine, Leighton Green).
Speed versus longevity
Leighton Green, Ficus hillii, London Plane and Platanus grow fastest. Coolwyn Gloss, Tristaniopsis, Waterhousea, Little Gem at moderate. Pencil Pine and Pin Oak are slower but the most long-lived.
Maintenance
Ficus hillii and Leighton Green want two to three light prunes a year. The others sit at one to two shaping cuts a year.
Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat'

1. Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat' (Aristocrat Ornamental Pear)

Symmetrical pyramidal form and brilliant autumn colour. Aristocrat is one of the most uniform avenue pears, perfect for rows of matching trees along a driveway.

Type
Deciduous ornamental pear
Height
10-12m
Width
6-8m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Glossy green leaves turning crimson and burgundy in autumn
Flowers
White blossoms in early spring
Form
Symmetrical pyramidal
Conditions
Full sun, most soils, frost tolerant
Maintenance
Low. Light prune to maintain shape
Best for
Driveway avenues, formal entries

Why choose it

Predictable uniform shape from tree to tree gives that classic avenue look.

Perfect pair

Pair with a clipped Buxus or Murraya hedge below for layered avenue planting.

Tips for planting

Space 6m apart for a continuous avenue effect.

The classic Australian driveway pear.

Shop Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat'
Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'

2. Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' (Bradford Ornamental Pear)

Large and uniform with stunning red-orange autumn colour. Bradford suits longer driveways and grand avenues where you want big visual impact at scale.

Type
Deciduous ornamental pear
Height
12-15m
Width
8m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Lush green turning red-orange in autumn
Flowers
White spring blossoms
Form
Symmetrical broad pyramidal
Conditions
Full sun, most soils, very frost tolerant
Maintenance
Low. Prune to maintain central leader
Best for
Long driveways, large entries, grand avenues

Why choose it

Bigger and broader than Aristocrat. Holds presence on long driveway runs.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Bay tree hedge underneath to anchor the autumn show.

Tips for planting

Space 7m apart for full avenue coverage.

Big, uniform, and unforgettable in autumn.

Shop Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'
Pyrus nivalis

3. Pyrus nivalis (Snow Pear)

Soft silver foliage and clouds of white spring flowers. Snow Pear is the elegant choice for an avenue with a softer, lighter feel.

Type
Semi-deciduous ornamental pear
Height
6-8m
Width
4-6m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Silver-grey new growth maturing to soft green
Flowers
Masses of pure white blooms in early spring
Form
Upright rounded
Conditions
Full sun, most soils, very frost tolerant
Maintenance
Low. Light prune to shape
Best for
Smaller driveways, cottage-style avenues

Why choose it

Silver foliage gives a softer driveway look than standard greens.

Perfect pair

Pair with a clipped Bay tree hedge to anchor the silver with deep green.

Tips for planting

Space 5m apart for an intimate avenue effect.

Silver elegance from driveway start to finish.

Shop Pyrus nivalis
Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear'

4. Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear' (Teddy Bear Magnolia)

Compact, velvety, and pyramidal. Teddy Bear is the evergreen avenue choice that holds dense leaves year round with bonus white summer flowers.

Type
Evergreen feature tree
Height
4-5m
Width
2-2.5m
Growth rate
Slow to moderate
Foliage
Glossy dark green with bronze underside
Flowers
Large white fragrant flowers in summer
Form
Tight pyramidal
Conditions
Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil
Maintenance
Very low
Best for
Evergreen avenues, narrow driveways, formal entries

Why choose it

Stays evergreen and compact, ideal where deciduous avenues feel too bare in winter.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Murraya hedge below for fragrant evergreen entry.

Tips for planting

Space 3m apart for an intimate avenue effect.

Year round driveway structure with summer flowers.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear'
Olea europaea 'Manzanillo'

5. Olea europaea 'Manzanillo' (Manzanillo Olive)

Silver foliage and sculptural form bring Mediterranean elegance to a driveway. Manzanillo creates a relaxed, sun-loving avenue that holds up through Australian summers.

Type
Evergreen feature tree
Height
4-6m
Width
3-4m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Silver-grey leaves year round
Flowers
Cream flowers in spring
Form
Rounded sculptural
Conditions
Full sun, free-draining soil, drought tolerant
Maintenance
Low. Light prune for shape
Best for
Mediterranean-style driveways, hot blocks, hilltop entries

Why choose it

Stays evergreen and silver year round. Built for hot Australian driveways.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Lilly Pilly hedge for dark green contrast against silver.

Tips for planting

Space 4-5m apart for a Tuscan-feel avenue.

A driveway that looks dialled-in all year.

Shop Olea europaea 'Manzanillo'
Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice'

6. Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice' (Miles Choice Bay Tree)

Upright, evergreen, and architectural. Bay creates a formal driveway avenue with dense aromatic leaves that hold all year.

Type
Evergreen feature tree
Height
4-6m
Width
1.5-2m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Deep glossy green aromatic leaves
Form
Upright columnar
Conditions
Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil, frost tolerant
Maintenance
Low. Trim once or twice yearly
Best for
Narrow driveways, formal entries, hedge avenues

Why choose it

Narrow upright form fits tight driveway runs without crowding.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Magnolia or Crepe Myrtle feature at the gate.

Tips for planting

Space 2m apart for a tight architectural avenue.

Tight, formal, evergreen driveway structure.

Shop Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice'
Acer rubrum 'October Glory'

7. Acer rubrum 'October Glory' (October Glory Maple)

Blazing red autumn foliage on a uniform pyramidal frame. October Glory is the deciduous avenue that puts on the boldest autumn show in cool gardens.

Type
Deciduous shade tree
Height
10-12m
Width
6-8m
Growth rate
Moderate to fast
Foliage
Green summer leaves turning fiery scarlet in autumn
Form
Symmetrical pyramidal
Conditions
Full sun, moist well-drained soil, frost tolerant
Maintenance
Low. Light prune to shape
Best for
Cool climate driveways, autumn-show avenues

Why choose it

Few avenue trees deliver the autumn intensity of October Glory.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Buxus hedge below for layered driveway formality.

Tips for planting

Best in cool climates. Avoid hot dry inland positions.

A driveway that turns scarlet every autumn.

Shop Acer rubrum 'October Glory'
Acer rubrum 'Autumn Red'

8. Acer rubrum 'Autumn Red' (Autumn Red Maple)

Earlier and more uniform autumn colouring than October Glory. Autumn Red is a reliable cool-climate avenue tree with predictable form and brilliant red leaves.

Type
Deciduous shade tree
Height
10-12m
Width
6-8m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Green summer turning brilliant red in autumn
Form
Symmetrical oval-pyramidal
Conditions
Full sun, moist well-drained soil, frost tolerant
Maintenance
Low
Best for
Cool climate driveways, formal autumn avenues

Why choose it

Colours earlier and more consistently across multiple trees in a row.

Perfect pair

Pair with a clipped Bay tree hedge for a structured cool-climate avenue.

Tips for planting

Space 6m apart for a continuous autumn canopy.

Autumn drama with a uniform, dependable form.

Shop Acer rubrum 'Autumn Red'
Ulmus parvifolia 'Todd'

9. Ulmus parvifolia 'Todd' (Todd Chinese Elm)

Smaller and tidier than the species. Todd Chinese Elm offers heat-tolerant avenue planting with mottled bark and gentle dappled shade.

Type
Semi-deciduous shade tree
Height
8-10m
Width
5-6m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Small glossy dark green leaves
Form
Spreading vase with mottled bark
Conditions
Full sun, most soils, heat and drought tolerant
Maintenance
Low. Lift lower branches as it matures
Best for
Suburban driveways, hot block avenues

Why choose it

Avenue performance with heat tolerance for inland and hot suburban blocks.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Murraya hedge underneath for evergreen structure.

Tips for planting

Space 5m apart for a continuous shaded driveway.

Heat-loving avenue tree with beautiful bark.

Shop Ulmus parvifolia 'Todd'
Ginkgo biloba

10. Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair Tree)

Fan-shaped leaves and an unbeatable golden autumn show. Ginkgo is the most uniform deciduous driveway tree for cool climates and brings instant heritage feel.

Type
Deciduous shade tree
Height
10-15m
Width
5-8m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Fan-shaped green leaves turning vivid yellow in autumn
Form
Upright pyramidal
Conditions
Full sun, most soils, very frost tolerant
Maintenance
Very low
Best for
Heritage driveways, statement avenues, large blocks

Why choose it

Reliable golden autumn show on a beautifully uniform pyramidal form.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Buxus or Murraya hedge below for refined formal layering.

Tips for planting

Choose male grafted forms only. Female trees produce smelly fruit.

The most uniform autumn-gold driveway tree available.

Shop Ginkgo biloba

How to plant and care for them

Mark the avenue line
Mark out positions with stakes before digging. Match spacing across both sides.
Prepare each planting hole
Dig each hole twice the width of the rootball and the same depth. Mix the original soil with aged compost.
Plant level
Set the rootball level with surrounding soil. Backfill and leave a watering well at the surface.
Stake every tree
Stake every avenue tree firmly through the first year. Two stakes outside the rootball with soft ties.
Mulch out to the drip line
Lay 75 to 100mm of organic mulch around each tree.
Water deeply through the first two summers
Twice a week deep watering in warm weather, once a week in mild weather.
Lift the canopy gradually
For shading deciduous picks (Pin Oak, London Plane, Chinese Elm), lift lower limbs gradually each winter for the first three to five years.

The wrap up

Match the avenue species to the architecture, plant in matched pairs at the right spacing, stake every tree firmly through the first year, and the avenue holds for decades.

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Comments

  • Peter January 19, 2024

    Hi….I’m looking for evergreen trees to create a screen down our driveway. There is a 400mm garden with concrete driveway on one side and timber fence on the other. Ideally these trees would max out at 6m high and 4 – 6m spread and be more inclined to deep roots rather than surface roots that might crack the driveway. Any suggestions?……/Peter

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