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Top 5 Flowering Trees for a Show-Stopping Garden

Top 5 Flowering Trees for a Show-Stopping Garden

Five of the most dramatic flowering trees in Australian gardens, from spring magnolias to summer crepe myrtles and jacarandas.
crepe myrtlefeature treesflowering treesjacarandamagnoliasnow pear

Five flowering trees that earn their space for the seasonal show alone. Each delivers a defining moment that turns the garden into theatre for weeks at a time.

Compare at a glance

CultivarHeightWidthFormFoliageBest if you…
Magnolia x soulangeana
Saucer Magnolia 		5-7m4-5mSpreading, multi-stemmedMid-green oval leavesFeature trees, spring colour, courtyards
Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez'
Natchez Crepe Myrtle 		5-8m3-5mMulti-trunked vase shapeDark green turning red-orange in autumnFeature trees, avenue planting, summer flowering
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Jacaranda 		10-15m8-10mSpreadingFine fern-like bipinnate leavesFeature trees, avenue planting, large lawns
Pyrus nivalis
Snow Pear 		7-10m5-7mPyramidalSilver-grey downy leavesFeature trees, avenue planting, silver foliage contrast
Lagerstroemia indica 'Lipan'
Lipan Crepe Myrtle 		4-5m3mVase-shaped multi-trunkDark green turning red-orange in autumnFeature trees, courtyard colour, summer interest
Match the season
Early spring: Magnolia x soulangeana. Spring: Snow Pear, Jacaranda. Summer: Natchez, Wildfire.
Climate fit
Magnolia x soulangeana, Snow Pear and Jacaranda prefer cool to warm-temperate. Natchez and Wildfire handle a wide range.
Block size
Jacaranda at 12 to 15m. Magnolias, Natchez and Wildfire at 5 to 8m. Snow Pear at 8 to 10m.
Magnolia x soulangeana

1. Magnolia x soulangeana (Saucer Magnolia)

Iconic deciduous magnolia with huge saucer blooms in pink and white before leaves emerge. Pure spring drama.

Type
Deciduous tree
Height
5-7m
Width
4-5m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Mid-green oval leaves
Flowers
Huge pink and white blooms in late winter to early spring
Form
Spreading, multi-stemmed
Conditions
Full sun to part shade, well-drained acidic soil
Maintenance
Low. Avoid pruning until flowering finishes.
Best for
Feature trees, spring colour, courtyards

Why choose it

Among the most spectacular spring-flowering trees anywhere. The first to bloom and the most dramatic.

Perfect pair

Pair Saucer Magnolia with a Magnolia Little Gem hedge for layered spring drama.

Tips for planting

Mulch heavily. Avoid windy spots. Water through summer until established.

Spring drama, year after year.

Shop Magnolia x soulangeana
Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez'

2. Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez' (Natchez Crepe Myrtle)

Spectacular summer-flowering deciduous tree with white panicles and cinnamon peeling bark.

Type
Deciduous tree
Height
5-8m
Width
3-5m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Dark green turning red-orange in autumn
Flowers
Long white panicles through summer
Form
Multi-trunked vase shape
Conditions
Full sun, well-drained soil, heat tolerant
Maintenance
Low.
Best for
Feature trees, avenue planting, summer flowering

Why choose it

Longest flowering season of any feature tree. Carries colour from December into March.

Perfect pair

Pair Natchez Crepe Myrtle with a Magnolia Little Gem hedge for layered structure.

Tips for planting

Full sun for best flowering. Water deeply through summer. Winter prune for shape.

Summer-long white blooms.

Shop Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez'
Jacaranda mimosifolia

3. Jacaranda mimosifolia (Jacaranda)

Showstopping deciduous tree with purple-blue panicles that turn the garden into a spectacle each November.

Type
Deciduous tree
Height
10-15m
Width
8-10m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Fine fern-like bipinnate leaves
Flowers
Purple-blue trumpet panicles in late spring
Form
Spreading
Conditions
Full sun, well-drained soil, frost-sensitive when young
Maintenance
Low.
Best for
Feature trees, avenue planting, large lawns

Why choose it

Nothing else flowers like this. The garden disappears under a purple carpet of fallen blooms.

Perfect pair

Pair Jacaranda with a Magnolia Little Gem hedge for evergreen backbone.

Tips for planting

Allow space for the spreading crown. Stake young trees against wind. Mulch with bark.

Late spring magic in purple-blue.

Shop Jacaranda mimosifolia
Pyrus nivalis

4. Pyrus nivalis (Snow Pear)

Elegant deciduous tree with silver foliage and clouds of white spring blossom.

Type
Deciduous tree
Height
7-10m
Width
5-7m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Silver-grey downy leaves
Flowers
Pure white blossoms in spring
Form
Pyramidal
Conditions
Full sun, well-drained soil, frost tolerant
Maintenance
Low.
Best for
Feature trees, avenue planting, silver foliage contrast

Why choose it

Silver foliage is rare in deciduous trees. Stands out in the garden long after spring blossom finishes.

Perfect pair

Pair Snow Pear with a Murraya paniculata hedge for fragrant silver-and-green contrast.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun. Water through summer. Winter prune for shape.

Silver elegance with spring drama.

Shop Pyrus nivalis
Lagerstroemia indica 'Lipan'

5. Lagerstroemia indica 'Lipan' (Lipan Crepe Myrtle)

Soft pink crepe myrtle for a softer summer colour palette than Natchez.

Type
Deciduous tree
Height
4-5m
Width
3m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Dark green turning red-orange in autumn
Flowers
Soft pink panicles all summer
Form
Vase-shaped multi-trunk
Conditions
Full sun, well-drained soil, heat tolerant
Maintenance
Low.
Best for
Feature trees, courtyard colour, summer interest

Why choose it

Compact form fits smaller gardens. Pink panicles last all summer with autumn colour bonus.

Perfect pair

Pair Lipan with a Magnolia Little Gem hedge for layered structure.

Tips for planting

Full sun for best flowering. Water deeply through summer. Skip nitrogen.

Soft pink summer for tight courtyards.

Shop Lagerstroemia indica 'Lipan'

How to plant and care for them

Pick the position
Full sun for the strongest flowering.
Prepare the planting hole
Twice the rootball width.
Plant level
Rootball level with surrounding soil.
Mulch out to the drip line
75 to 100mm of organic mulch.
Water through the first two summers
Twice a week deep watering.
Light shaping prune
Light winter prune only.

Frequently asked questions

Best small flowering trees?
Lipan Crepe Myrtle and Magnolia x soulangeana.
When to plant?
Autumn or early spring for best establishment.
Avenue planting picks?
Natchez or Jacaranda for long avenues.

The wrap up

Five flowering picks for show-stopping garden moments. Layer two for back-to-back colour across the seasons.

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