What is a deciduous tree?
Deciduous trees shed their leaves once a year, usually in autumn when their leaves have matured. This fallen leaf litter can be a wonderful addition to the compost heap, your city green recycling bin or used as mulch.
What are some of the benefits of having them in the garden?
One of the most valuable assets in the Australian garden, Deciduous trees provide cooling shade in summer and let the light and warmth in during Winter. Their ornamental appeal is another highlight, as their leaves transition through stunning autumnal colours before shedding.
Deciduous trees aren’t limited to cold climates- many species thrive in warm temperate and subtropical regions as well.
Our top 20 Deciduous trees
Below is a selection of deciduous trees suitable for various climate zones. This is not an exhaustive list, so be sure to check with your local garden centre or hardware store for advice on the best options for your area.
- Platanus x acerifolia ‘London Plane Tree’
- Lagerstroemia indica & cultivars ‘Crepe Myrtle’.
- Liquidambar styraciflua “Liquid Amber or Sweet Gum’
- Acer species &cultivars ‘Japanese Maple’
- Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Tulip Tree’
- Magnolia X soulangeana ‘Saucer Magnolia’
- Pistacia chinensis ‘Chinese Pistachio’
- Betula species ‘Birch’
- Ginkgo biloba “Maidenhair Tree’
- Cassia fistula ‘Golden Shower Tree’
- Laburnum ‘Golden Chain Tree’
- Plumeria acutifolia ‘Frangipani’
- Handroanthus species ‘Pink Trumpet Tree’
- Pyrus species & cultivars ‘Ornamental Pears’
- Jacaranda mimosifolia ‘Jacaranda’ white & purple forms.
- Delonix regia ‘Poinciana’
- Brachychition acerifolius ‘Illawarra Flame Tree’
- Calodendrum capense “Cape Chestnut”
- Fraxinus oxycarpa “Raywoodii Claret Ash’
- Taxodium distichum ‘Swamp Cypress’
