Trees are one of the most valuable additions you can make to your home and garden. They are the most effective way to naturally cool your property, providing shade that can reduce heat and energy costs during warmer months. Trees also attract native birds and bees, improve air quality, and enhance the beauty and tranquillity of your outdoor space.
Whether you're planting as part of a planning permit or simply want to enhance your outdoor space, choosing the right tree can bring long-term benefits for your home, neighbourhood, and the environment.
Below are suggested tree species suited to gardens in Whitehorse – selected to help you make a positive, sustainable choice for the future.
Red Flowering Yellow Gum - Eucalyptus leucoxylon 'Rosea'
Category: Large (minimum 12m tall)
| Height: 12-15m Width: 7m Best feature: Beautiful flowers that will bring lorikeets to the garden Ideal for: Native gardens or where light shade is preferred |
Moort - Eucalyptus Platypus
Category: Small (minimum 6m tall)
| Height: 7m Width: 6m Best feature: A fast-growing mallee gum that copes well with dry conditions. Rounded dense canopy, responds well to pruning, good for screening. Ideal for: Compact garden with hard clay soils that doesn't get too wet |
Persian Ironwood - Parrotia persica
Category: Small (minimum 6m tall)
| Height: 7m Width: 5m Best feature: Drought tolerant. Great yellow to burgundy colour in autumn. Ideal for: Shade in a hot, urban environment where you would like something a little more unusual |
Trident Maple - Acer buergerianum
Category: Medium (minimum 8m tall)
| Height: 9m Width: 6m Best feature: Neat form, drought tolerant. Beautiful bronze autumn colour. Ideal for: Small gardens where shade is a priority |
Forest Sheoak - Allocasuarina torulosa
Category: Medium (minimum 8m tall)
| Height: 10m Width: 7m Best feature: Hardy and tolerates poor dry soil. Shivering sound of the wind through the leaves adds a great sensory element. Ideal for: Low maintenance gardens |
Illawarra Flame Tree - Brachychiton acerifolius
Category: Medium (minimum 8m tall)
| Height: 10m Width: 5m Best feature: Suitable as a feature tree. Bright red flowers in spring to summer. Ideal for: Gardens that get full sun and free draining soil |
Jacaranda - Jacaranda mimosifolia
Category: Medium (minimum 8m tall)
| Height: 10m Width: 8m Best feature: Graceful bipinnate foliage, attractive purple flowers. Ideal for: Larger gardens where it can spread wide |
Red Flowering Ironbark - Eucalyptus sideroxylon ‘Rosea’
Category: Large (minimum 12m tall)
| Height: 15m Width: 6-10m Best feature: Can tolerate drought and high rainfall. Pink to red flowers. This species is great for habitat for birds and invertebrates. Ideal for: Large gardens |