Using Trees to Create a Child-Friendly Garden

Five non-toxic, structural trees that make Australian gardens safer and more fun for kids.

baychild friendly gardencrepe myrtlefamily gardenmagnolia little gemmurrayanon-toxic treesolive

A family garden has different rules. No toxic leaves, no spines, no fruit that can choke. The right trees are structural enough for kids to interact with and tough enough to handle the rough and tumble.

This is a shortlist of five trees that work in family gardens — safe, structural and built for kids.

The safe evergreens

Magnolia Little Gem and Bay both deliver non-toxic foliage and dense structural form. The compact habit creates safe hiding spots and the leaves are safe to handle.

Family-safe tree in child-friendly garden

The climbing tree

Crepe Myrtle Natchez has a smooth multi-trunk form that's perfect for younger climbers. Non-toxic foliage and bark, quick-growing canopy for play shade.

Tree with climbing branches for children

The kitchen tree

Bay does triple duty — it's safe, structural, and you can pull leaves for cooking. Murraya delivers fragrant white flowers and creates safe boundary hedging around play areas.

Family garden tree with fragrant flowers

Pairing the layers

Plant a fruitless Olive as the climbing feature and a Magnolia Little Gem as the safe evergreen anchor. Run a Murraya hedge around the play area for soft boundary. That's a working family garden in three trees.

FAQs

Are all five trees non-toxic?
Yes. Foliage, flowers and bark are safe to handle. Olive and Crepe Myrtle bark is safe to climb.

Can kids climb these trees?
Crepe Myrtle and fruitless Olive have multi-trunk forms perfect for younger climbers.

Will these handle 30°C and above?
All five tolerate Australian summers once established.

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

Compact evergreen with non-toxic foliage and white scented flowers.

Type: Evergreen tree
Height: 4-6m
Width: 2-3m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Glossy dark green, bronze underside
Flowers: Creamy white fragrant spring to autumn
Form: Upright columnar
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, fertile well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Child-friendly gardens where you want a non-toxic structural evergreen.

Why choose it

Foliage and flowers are non-toxic, and the dense form gives kids something to hide behind without breakable branches.

Perfect pair

Plant Little Gem as the safe evergreen and a Crepe Myrtle Natchez nearby for added seasonal interest.

Tips for planting

Mulch heavily. Feed in spring

Safe, structural evergreen for family gardens.

Shop Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'

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

Non-toxic deciduous feature with smooth bark perfect for climbing kids.

Type: Deciduous tree
Height: 5-8m
Width: 4-5m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Glossy green, vivid autumn
Flowers: White panicles summer
Form: Vase-shaped multi-trunk
Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil, drought tolerant
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Family gardens where the tree needs to handle play.

Why choose it

Non-toxic foliage and bark, smooth trunk for climbing, and quick-growing canopy for play shade.

Perfect pair

Plant Crepe Myrtle as the climbing feature and run a Magnolia Little Gem hedge for safe evergreen frame.

Tips for planting

Avoid heavy pruning. Light shape only

Smooth-trunked climbing tree with seasonal colour.

Shop Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez'

3. Olea europaea 'Swan Hill' (Fruitless Olive)

Tough evergreen with no fruit to swallow and no spikes — a kid-safe Mediterranean.

Type: Evergreen tree
Height: 4-6m
Width: 3-4m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Silver-green willowy
Form: Rounded
Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil, drought tolerant
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Family gardens needing tough evergreen without fruit hazard.

Why choose it

No fruit to choke on, no spines, and the multi-stem form gives kids a low climbing branch.

Perfect pair

Plant Swan Hill as the safe feature and run a Murraya hedge for evergreen low-mess frame.

Tips for planting

Plant in free-draining soil. Avoid wet feet

Tough, safe, beautiful for family gardens.

Shop Olea europaea 'Swan Hill'

4. Laurus nobilis (Bay Tree)

Aromatic evergreen with edible non-toxic leaves and dense formal habit.

Type: Evergreen tree
Height: 4-8m (can be pruned to desired height)
Width: 2-4m
Growth rate: Slow to moderate
Foliage: Aromatic dark green
Form: Upright columnar
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Family kitchen gardens where the tree earns its place through cooking value.

Why choose it

Edible non-toxic leaves go into kitchen, and the dense formal habit creates safe hiding spots for kids.

Perfect pair

Plant Bay as the edible feature and run a Murraya hedge nearby for fragrant evergreen layering.

Tips for planting

Clip twice a year. Harvest for kitchen

Family-safe evergreen with kitchen credentials.

Shop Laurus nobilis

5. Murraya paniculata (Orange Jasmine)

Soft-leafed evergreen with fragrant flowers — safe and welcoming for children.

Type: Evergreen shrub or small tree
Height: 2-4m (can be pruned to desired height)
Width: 1-2m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Glossy dark green soft
Flowers: Fragrant white in summer
Form: Rounded dense
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Child-friendly hedging around play areas.

Why choose it

Soft leaves, no thorns, and the dense form creates safe boundaries around play areas.

Perfect pair

Plant Murraya as the play boundary hedge and a Magnolia Little Gem feature for layered safe evergreen.

Tips for planting

Mulch heavily. Clip after flowering

Soft, fragrant, kid-safe hedging.

Shop Murraya paniculata

Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' Little Gem Magnolia	4-6m	2-3m	Upright columnar	Glossy dark green, bronze underside	Child-friendly gardens where you want a non-toxic structural evergreen.
Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez' White Crepe Myrtle	5-8m	4-5m	Vase-shaped multi-trunk	Glossy green, vivid autumn	Family gardens where the tree needs to handle play.
Olea europaea 'Swan Hill' Fruitless Olive	4-6m	3-4m	Rounded	Silver-green willowy	Family gardens needing tough evergreen without fruit hazard.
Laurus nobilis Bay Tree	4-8m (can be pruned to desired height)	2-4m	Upright columnar	Aromatic dark green	Family kitchen gardens where the tree earns its place through cooking value.
Murraya paniculata Orange Jasmine	2-4m (can be pruned to desired height)	1-2m	Rounded dense	Glossy dark green soft	Child-friendly hedging around play areas.