Deciduous Trees & Plants

Why plant deciduous

A deciduous tree is a seasonal machine. In summer it throws dense shade exactly when you want it; in winter it drops its canopy and hands the sun back to your windows, lawn and solar panels. In between come the bonuses evergreens cannot offer: flowers on bare wood, autumn foliage in orange, red and claret, and the sculptural branch structure that carries the garden through July. That yearly rhythm is why the classic street trees of Australia, jacarandas, crepe myrtles and liquidambars among them, are nearly all deciduous.

How to choose from this collection

The range covers far more than trees, so start with the layer you are filling. For feature and shade trees, the crepe myrtle range runs from 3m courtyard forms to 7m avenue trees, with jacaranda, Illawarra flame tree and saucer magnolia for larger blocks and Japanese maples for cooler gardens. For the shrub layer there are hydrangeas for shaded beds and roses for full sun. Wisteria and Boston ivy cover pergolas and walls. And the edible end is strong: figs, pomegranates, blueberries and other fruiting plants that crop hard precisely because they rest each winter.

Climate: chill hours and warm climate exceptions

• Cool temperate gardens, including Melbourne, the ranges, Canberra and Tasmania, get the best autumn colour. Japanese maples, river birch and liquidambar all colour hardest where autumn nights are cold.
• Warm temperate gardens suit nearly everything here. Crepe myrtles are the standout, flowering for months in summer heat and still colouring in autumn.
• Subtropical and tropical gardens have their own deciduous set: poinciana, frangipani and pink trumpet tree drop leaves in the dry season rather than the cold, and hold their rhythm even in Brisbane and Darwin. True cold climate plants like maples struggle north of the border.
• Mediterranean and inland gardens do well with pomegranates, figs, crepe myrtles and roses, all of which shrug off hot dry summers.

Planting, pruning and the winter advantage

Winter is the deciduous planting season. A dormant plant moves with almost no transplant shock, so a tree planted leafless in June is fully at home before its first summer. Dig the hole twice the width of the rootball and no deeper, water in well even if the plant looks asleep, and mulch 75mm deep with mulch kept off the trunk. Water deeply twice a week through the first summer. Prune in late winter for plants that flower on new wood, such as crepe myrtles and roses, but wait until straight after flowering for spring performers like wisteria and saucer magnolia, or you will cut off next year's show. The crepe myrtle care guide walks through the pruning method that keeps trees shapely rather than stubbed.

Common questions

Will my plant arrive looking dead in winter?

If you order between roughly May and September, quite possibly, and it is nothing to worry about. A dormant deciduous plant is bare sticks with healthy roots. Scratch the bark lightly and you will find green underneath. It will leaf out on schedule in spring.

How much mess do the leaves make?

An honest fortnight or two of raking each autumn for a mature tree, less for shrubs. Drop is concentrated and predictable rather than constant, unlike many evergreens that shed year round. Keep large deciduous trees away from gutters and pool skimmers, or choose a compact form.

Can I grow deciduous plants in pots?

Yes, and some prefer it. Japanese maples, dwarf crepe myrtles, figs and blueberries all perform in a 50cm to 60cm pot with premium mix and reliable summer water. Repot or root prune every three to four years in winter.

Do I lose all privacy in winter?

From these plants, yes, which is why they are best used as features rather than boundary screens. If year round screening is the goal, pair them with an evergreen hedge and let the deciduous tree do the seasonal work in front of it.

How does delivery work?

The whole collection is delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and no minimum order. Advanced and large trees are freighted at cost, and every plant carries the 30 day healthy plant guarantee.