5 Flowering Feature Trees for a Stunning Show

Five flowering feature trees that anchor any Australian garden. Lipan, Black Tulip, Forest Pansy, Bella Pink Flame Tree and Yulan Magnolia.

brachychitoncerciscrepe myrtlefeature treesflowering treesmagnolia

Flowering feature trees do the heavy lifting in garden design. Pick the right five and you have colour from late winter Yulan blooms through summer crepe myrtle pink.

Here are five we recommend at Evergreen Trees Direct for a long flowering show.

FAQs

Year round colour? Combine Yulan Magnolia, Crepe Myrtle and Camellia.

Small gardens? Lipan and Forest Pansy.

Planting time? Autumn or early spring.

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

Soft pink crepe myrtle with long-lasting summer panicles.

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

Why choose it

Long summer of soft pink with autumn colour bonus.

Perfect pair

Pair Lipan with a Magnolia Little Gem hedge.

Tips for planting

Full sun. Water through summer. Skip nitrogen.

Soft pink summer.

Shop Lagerstroemia indica 'Lipan'

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

Deciduous magnolia with the deepest burgundy goblet-shaped blooms of any Magnolia.

Type: Deciduous tree
Height: 4-6m
Width: 3-4m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Mid-green oval leaves
Flowers: Deep burgundy tulip-shaped blooms in spring
Form: Upright, narrow
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, well-drained acidic soil
Maintenance: Low.
Best for: Spring feature trees, dramatic courtyards

Why choose it

Deepest velvet burgundy blooms anywhere. Pure spring drama.

Perfect pair

Pair Black Tulip with a Murraya hedge for contrast.

Tips for planting

Mulch heavily. Shelter from wind. Water through summer.

The dark heart of spring.

Shop Magnolia x soulangeana 'Black Tulip'

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

Compact deciduous tree with pink spring blooms on bare branches and purple summer foliage.

Type: Deciduous tree
Height: 5-7m
Width: 4-5m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Heart-shaped burgundy purple
Flowers: Pink pea-flowers in early spring
Form: Spreading, rounded
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low.
Best for: Spring blooms, purple foliage, feature trees

Why choose it

Double impact: spring blooms then summer purple foliage.

Perfect pair

Pair Forest Pansy with a Magnolia Little Gem hedge.

Tips for planting

Plant in autumn. Mulch heavily. Water through summer.

Spring and summer drama in one tree.

Shop Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'

4. Brachychiton populneus x acerifolius 'Bella Pink' (Bella Pink Flame Tree)

Hybrid flame tree with hot pink summer blooms on a compact native frame.

Type: Semi-evergreen tree
Height: 8-10m
Width: 4-5m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Glossy green lobed leaves
Flowers: Hot pink bell blooms in summer
Form: Upright, pyramidal
Conditions: Full sun, most soils, drought tolerant
Maintenance: Very low.
Best for: Native feature trees, summer pink drama

Why choose it

Native hybrid that delivers tropical-looking pink without the size of pure Illawarra Flame Tree.

Perfect pair

Pair Bella Pink with a Banksia for layered native colour.

Tips for planting

Plant in autumn. Water through year one only. Stake against wind.

Native flame tree, compact form.

Shop Brachychiton populneus x acerifolius 'Bella Pink'

5. Magnolia denudata (Yulan Magnolia)

Deciduous magnolia with pure white goblet blooms on bare branches in late winter.

Type: Deciduous tree
Height: 6-8m
Width: 4-5m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Mid-green oval leaves
Flowers: Large pure white goblet blooms in late winter to early spring
Form: Upright spreading
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, well-drained acidic soil
Maintenance: Low.
Best for: Late winter feature trees, pure white drama

Why choose it

Earliest magnolia to flower with the cleanest white blooms anywhere. A signature winter-spring statement.

Perfect pair

Pair Yulan Magnolia with a Camellia sasanqua hedge for layered winter blooms.

Tips for planting

Shelter from wind. Mulch heavily. Water through summer.

Pure white at winter's end.

Shop Magnolia denudata

Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Lagerstroemia indica 'Lipan' Lipan Crepe Myrtle	4-5m	3m	Vase-shaped multi-trunk	Dark green turning red-orange in autumn	Feature trees, courtyard colour
Magnolia x soulangeana 'Black Tulip' Black Tulip Magnolia	4-6m	3-4m	Upright, narrow	Mid-green oval leaves	Spring feature trees, dramatic courtyards
Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' Forest Pansy	5-7m	4-5m	Spreading, rounded	Heart-shaped burgundy purple	Spring blooms, purple foliage, feature trees
Brachychiton populneus x acerifolius 'Bella Pink' Bella Pink Flame Tree	8-10m	4-5m	Upright, pyramidal	Glossy green lobed leaves	Native feature trees, summer pink drama
Magnolia denudata Yulan Magnolia	6-8m	4-5m	Upright spreading	Mid-green oval leaves	Late winter feature trees, pure white drama