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Top 5 Driveway Trees for a Grand Entrance

Top 5 Driveway Trees for a Grand Entrance

Five trees that line driveways with style. From Bradford and Aristocrat Pears to October Glory Maple, Little Gem Magnolia and Ginkgo.
Avenue PlantingDriveway TreesFeature Trees

A planted driveway sets the tone of the home from the street. Matched pairs of well-chosen evergreens turn a driveway into the arrival moment a home deserves.

The five driveway picks below are the ones we recommend most often.

Compare at a glance

CultivarHeightWidthFormFoliageBest if you…
Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'
Bradford Pear 		8-12m5-7mRounded, symmetricalGlossy green summer, red autumnDriveway lining, formal entrances
Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat'
Aristocrat Pear 		10-12m6-8mPyramidal, layeredGlossy green summer, red autumnLong driveways, formal entrances
Acer rubrum 'October Glory'
October Glory Maple 		12-15m8-10mSymmetrical rounded crownGlossy green summer, fiery red autumnDriveway lining, formal entrances
Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'
Little Gem Magnolia 		4-6m (can be pruned to desired height)2-3mUpright, dense pyramidalGlossy dark green with bronze undersidesShorter formal drives, evergreen presence
Ginkgo biloba
Maidenhair Tree 		10-15m6-10mUpright young, broadening with ageFan-shaped leaves, brilliant gold autumnLong-term avenue planting, architectural drives
Match the architecture
Polished modern: Coolwyn Gloss, Ficus hillii, Tristaniopsis. Mediterranean: Pencil Pine. Classical heritage: Pin Oak.
Spacing
Matched pairs at 4 to 6m centres for spreading evergreens. Tighter for columnar Pencil Pine.
Stake firmly
Every avenue tree needs firm staking through the first year.
Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'

1. Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' (Bradford Pear)

The classic round-crown driveway tree. Uniform line of spring blossom and red autumn colour.

Type
Deciduous flowering tree
Height
8-12m
Width
5-7m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Glossy green summer, red autumn
Flowers
White spring blossom
Form
Rounded, symmetrical
Conditions
Full sun. Tolerates urban conditions.
Maintenance
Low.
Best for
Driveway lining, formal entrances

Why choose it

Round symmetrical crown delivers the uniform avenue look.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Waterhousea floribunda hedge along the driveway boundary.

Tips for planting

Plant 5m apart for continuous canopy.

Bradford is the standard avenue Pyrus.

Shop Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford'
Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat'

2. Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat' (Aristocrat Pear)

Pyramidal crown with horizontal branching. The architectural cousin of Bradford.

Type
Deciduous flowering tree
Height
10-12m
Width
6-8m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Glossy green summer, red autumn
Flowers
White spring blossom
Form
Pyramidal, layered
Conditions
Full sun.
Maintenance
Low.
Best for
Long driveways, formal entrances

Why choose it

Layered branching delivers more drama on long formal drives.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Murraya paniculata fragrant hedge along the verge.

Tips for planting

Plant 5-6m apart.

Aristocrat lifts the driveway beyond expectations.

Shop Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat'
Acer rubrum 'October Glory'

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

Tall deciduous Canadian Maple with brilliant red autumn colour. Dramatic feature for grand entrances.

Type
Deciduous shade tree
Height
12-15m
Width
8-10m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Glossy green summer, fiery red autumn
Form
Symmetrical rounded crown
Conditions
Full sun. Frost tolerant.
Maintenance
Low.
Best for
Driveway lining, formal entrances

Why choose it

October Glory delivers the most reliable red autumn show of any Acer rubrum.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Waterhousea floribunda hedge along the boundary.

Tips for planting

Plant 6-8m apart for canopy spread.

October Glory turns autumn into a celebration.

Shop Acer rubrum 'October Glory'
Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'

4. Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' (Little Gem Magnolia)

Compact evergreen magnolia keeps the driveway structured year round. Glossy foliage and white summer flowers.

Type
Evergreen feature tree
Height
4-6m (can be pruned to desired height)
Width
2-3m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Glossy dark green with bronze undersides
Flowers
Creamy white summer blooms
Form
Upright, dense pyramidal
Conditions
Full sun to part shade. Well-drained soil.
Maintenance
Low.
Best for
Shorter formal drives, evergreen presence

Why choose it

Evergreen leaves keep the driveway formal even in winter.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Buxus formal low hedge along the verge.

Tips for planting

Plant 3-4m apart for the layered formal effect.

Little Gem suits shorter formal drives where you want year round structure.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'
Ginkgo biloba

5. Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair Tree)

Ancient tree with distinctive fan-shaped leaves and brilliant gold autumn colour. Architectural and long-lived.

Type
Deciduous feature tree
Height
10-15m
Width
6-10m
Growth rate
Slow to moderate
Foliage
Fan-shaped leaves, brilliant gold autumn
Form
Upright young, broadening with age
Conditions
Full sun to part shade. Tolerates urban conditions.
Maintenance
Low.
Best for
Long-term avenue planting, architectural drives

Why choose it

Ginkgo is a 100-year tree. A driveway avenue holds its character across generations.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Camellia sasanqua hedge along the verge.

Tips for planting

Choose male cultivars to avoid fruit drop.

A Ginkgo avenue is an investment in the next 100 years.

Shop Ginkgo biloba

How to plant and care for them

Mark the line
Stake out positions on both sides before digging.
Prepare each hole
Twice the rootball width, same depth.
Plant level
Rootball level with surrounding soil.
Stake every tree
Two stakes outside the rootball with soft ties.
Mulch out to the drip line
75 to 100mm of organic mulch.
Water through the first two summers
Twice a week deep watering.

Frequently asked questions

How far apart should I plant?
5-6m for Pyrus, 3-4m for Little Gem, 6-8m for Acer and Ginkgo.

The wrap up

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

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