The brilliant colour of Crepe myrtle
It feels like Autumn is already on the way, with cooler mornings and changing colours emerging among the trees. This shift signals the transition from Canberra’s summer to the impending winter chill, marking a time when the city’s gardens transform into a stunning display of vibrant oranges, yellows, and reds.
We’ve compiled a selection of our favourite trees renowned for their stunning autumn colours, perfectly suited for smaller gardens:
- Malus ioensis ‘Plena’ (Bechtel’s Crab Apple): Known for its hardiness and striking burnt orange and red foliage in autumn, this ornamental tree grows to around 6 meters. While drought and frost-tolerant, it benefits from wind protection and typically does not produce crab apples.
- Fraxinus excelsior ‘Aurea’ (Golden Ash): With its golden autumn leaves, this stunning tree provides delicate shade in summer, allowing grass to flourish beneath. Reaching heights up to 7 meters with a matching canopy, it favours rich soils and exhibits resilience to frost and drought.
- Malus ‘John Downie’ (Crab apple): Ideal for those seeking crab apples, this deciduous tree boasts pink spring flowers that fade to white. Growing to approximately 5 meters with a 5-meter canopy, it proves resilient to frost and drought while being a fast grower.
- Lagerstroemia ‘Tuscarora’ (Crepe Myrtle): These hardy trees, reaching around 6 meters in height, offer a year-round spectacle. From spectacular pink summer flowers to brilliant red and orange autumn leaves, they withstand wind, frost, and drought with ease.
- Acer palmatum ‘Polymorphum’ (Japanese maple): This Japanese maple variety stands out for its captivating autumn display. Reaching approximately 4 meters in height, it offers dappled shade during summer months and thrives with some protection from intense sun and winds.
In addition to smaller options, we also recommend these medium-sized trees for rich autumn colour:
- Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’ (Aristocrat Pear): This fast-growing pear tree, reaching heights of approximately 11 meters, boasts rich autumn colours and elegant white blossoms in spring. Withstanding frost and drought, it forms a stunning canopy.
- Parrotia persica ‘Vanessa’ (Persian Witchhazel): Known for its brilliant autumn colours and graceful vase shape, this slow-growing tree reaches heights of around 10 meters. Tolerant of frost and dry conditions, it adds elegance to any garden.
- Pistacia chinensis (Chinese Pistachio): For those with ample space, the Chinese pistachio is an excellent choice, showcasing vibrant autumn hues, spring flowers, and colourful berries. Reaching heights up to 12 meters, it thrives in frost and drought conditions.
- Nyssa sylvatica autumn cascade (Tupelo): Slow growing medium-sized tree with outstanding autumn colour and lovely weeping form. It prefers moist soils. Reaches a height of 8m with a canopy of 5m.
At TreeWorks, we pride ourselves on being a leading tree services provider in Canberra, Monaro, and Southern Tablelands. Our team of fully licensed and insured arborists, with extensive experience in tree surgery and removals, ensures the health and safety of your trees. Contact us at 1800 873 343 or book online for a complimentary on-site tree health inspection.