Feature Trees for the Australian Garden
Evergreen, deciduous, flowering and feature trees for small gardens

Feature Trees in Landscaping

Feature trees in gardens are used as a focal point in front yards, parks and even small gardens, it might be tree is chosen for attractive flowers, colorful foliage, interesting shape, form or bark or as is common the desirable weeping or pendulous form of trees such as Weeping Cherries, Weeping Birch and other varieties.

Many Australian Native Trees make great feature trees in the right setting, Bottle Trees (Brachychiton rupestris) with their fascinating trunks are one such tree. Flowering native trees such as Corymbia ficifolia commonly known as 'Flowering Gum Trees' are another great feature tree.

Many Magnolias, Birches and Prunus species also make great feature trees.The London plane tree (Platanus x acerifolia) is a large growing feature tree, probably not suited to any but the largest of gardens. Claret Ash (Fraxinus 'Raywood') is a popular smaller tree. Mop Top Robinia (Robinia 'Umbraculifera') is incredibly popular as a feature tree, perhaps a little overused. Purple Glorytree Tibouchina granulosa and Brachychiton acerifolia or Illawarra Flame Tree are worth considering.

We like Crab Apples (Malus sp.) or 'ornamental apple trees'. Great shows of flowers and an attractive deciduous tree.

If you are after flowers, why not try Magnolia x 'Felix' (pictured right) or Magnolia soulangiana 'Vulcan'.

Other Magnolia trees that make great feature trees include

Japanese Maple Trees (Acer Palmatum) are widely used as feature trees in smaller gardens, Attractive foliage and great autumn colour are of interest. However some maples such as Acer Griseum (Paperbark Maple) with peeling mahogany coloured bark on the trunk are grown for their bark as well as autumn colour.

If you are interested in showy bark, then Silver Birches (Betula) are great, but consider Arbutus species as well.

Pyrus calleryanna 'ornamental pear trees' are very popular in larger gardens. Liriodendrom or Tulip Tree is another great ornamental tree.

Choosing a feature tree for the garden

A number of factors need to be taken into account when choosing a feature tree for any garden or yard, large or small, these include :

The bark of many trees such as Betula jacquemontii (pictured left) can be a great feature in the garden. Planted alone as a specimen, or in a group of three, or a long line along a drive or pathway the fantastic bark colours can make a real statement.

Other trees with great Bark as a feature include