TreeWorks has compiled a list of some of our favourite autumn trees which thrive in the Canberra region and are guaranteed to add colour and texture to your garden.
Stunning Canberra autumn colour
Small trees
1. Acer palmatum ‘Polymorphum’
This is one of the most popular of the Japanese maples and is known for its beautiful autumn colour. This small specimen tree reaches around 4m in height and provides dappled shade in summer. It prefers protection from the hot sun and winds during summer.
2. Malus ioensis ‘Plena’
Bechtel’s crab apple is a hardy ornamental tree with stunning burnt orange and red colours in autumn. It reaches around 6m, is drought and frost tolerant, but prefers protection from the wind. This isn’t the best variety if you are looking for fruit as the Bechtel rarely produces crab apples.
3. Fraxinus excelsior ‘Aurea’
The Golden Ash is a stunning tree that gets its name from its golden leaves in autumn. We love the delicate shade it provides in summer which allows the lawn to still grow beneath. It gets to around 7m high with a 7m canopy and likes to grow in rich soils. It is frost hardy and drought resistant.
4. Malus ‘John Downie’
If you are after crab apples John Downie is one of the best. This fast-growing deciduous tree has pink flowers in spring which fade to white. It reaches around 5m with a 5m canopy and is frost and drought hardy.
5. Lagerstremia ‘Tuscarora’
One of the many beautiful Crepe Myrtles. These hardy trees reach around 6m high and put on a show throughout the year. Spectacular pink flowers in summer give way to brilliant red and orange leaves in autumn. They are wind, frost, and drought hardy.
Medium trees
1. Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’
The Aristocrat pear is another favourite for its rich autumn colours and upright form. It’s a fast grower that reaches around 11m in height with a 7m canopy. In spring it produces a lovely white blossom. It’s frost hardy, and wind and drought resistant.
2. Parrotia persica ‘Vanessa’
Persian witchhazel is one of our favourite deciduous trees. It is slow growing with brilliant autumn colours in a lovely open vase shape. This tree eventually reaches around 10m in height with a 10m spread. It can withstand frosts to around minus 10 degrees and doesn’t mind the dry conditions.
3. Pistacia chinensis
If you’ve got the room it’s hard to go past a Chinese pistachio tree. We love the vibrant autumn colours, white flowers in spring and its red and mauve berries. The pistachio gets to around 12m tall with an 8m crown and is also frost and drought hardy.
TreeWorks is a leading tree services business operating in Canberra, Monaro, and Southern Tablelands. We are a fully licensed, Evoenergy accredited & insured tree surgery company and a member of Arboriculture Australia. Our climbers are appropriately trained and some of our arborists have over 25 years experience in large scale tree surgery and removals. Call 1800 873 343 or book online for a free on-site tree health and safety inspection.