Trees and shrubs for autumn colour in Australia

Autumn is a season of transformation, where trees and shrubs put on a breathtaking display of fiery reds, golden yellows, and warm oranges before shedding their leaves.

This vivid change in foliage occurs as plants prepare for the colder months, reducing chlorophyll production and revealing underlying pigments like carotenoids and anthocyanins. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, autumnal colours signal a shift in the natural world, marking the culmination of the growing season and the beginning of dormancy. These changes create a picturesque landscape, offering both gardeners and nature enthusiasts an opportunity to appreciate the fleeting beauty of the season.

Choose plants suited to your local soil and climate conditions. Some deciduous trees may perform better in cooler microclimates within warmer zones.

Australia’s diverse climatic zones allow for a variety of trees and shrubs that showcase stunning autumnal colours. Here’s a guide to some top plants for autumnal displays, categorized by climatic zones.

Temperate Zones (e.g. Syd, Melb, Adel)

• Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

– Fiery red, orange, and gold foliage.

• Claret Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia ‘Raywood’)

– Deep burgundy leaves.

• Chinese Pistachio (Pistacia chinensis)

– Bright red, orange, and yellow tones.

• Liquidambar (Liquidambar styraciflua)

– Rich reds, purples, and yellows.

• Golden Ash (Fraxinus excelsior ‘Aurea’)

– Vivid yellow foliage.

Cool/Mountain Zones

• European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) – Stunning orange and copper hues.

• Japanese Cherry (Prunus serrulata) – Red and orange foliage.

• Crabapple (Malus spp.) – Yellow, orange, or red leaves, often paired with ornamental fruit.

• Silver Birch (Betula pendula) – Striking golden-yellow leaves.

• Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) – Yellow and gold foliage.

Subtropical Zones

• Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

– Varying shades

• Chinese Tallow Tree

(Triadica sebifera) – Vibrant yellow and orange foliage.

• Poinciana (Delonix regia) – Warm tones of orange and red in suitable conditions.

• Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) – A mix of red leaves and striking red flowers.

Tropical Zones (e.g., Cairns, Darwin)

Autumn colours are less pronounced in tropical areas, but some plants show seasonal change:

• Frangipani (Plumeria spp.) – Leaves can turn yellow before falling.

• Cassia (Cassia fistula) – Golden-yellow blooms paired with subtle leaf colour shifts.

• Teak Tree (Tectona grandis) – Leaves turn red-brown in dry seasons.

• Sandpaper Fig (Ficus coronata) – Yellowing leaves in cooler weather.

Arid Zones (e.g., Alice Springs)

• Desert Oak (Allocasuarina decaisneana) – Subtle bronzing of foliage.

• Brachychiton species (e.g., Kurrajong) – Deciduous habits revealing warm-hued leaves.

• Native Mulga (Acacia aneura) – Subtle gold hues in foliage.

• River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) – Bark colour changes paired with muted leaf transitions.

Top deciduous trees by autumn colour

Red

Acer rubrum var.

Acer palmatum var.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

– Virginia creeper (climber)

Quercus Scarlet Oak

Fraxinus oxycarpa ‘Raywoodii’

–  Claret Ash

Lime

Ginkgo ‘Lemonlime Spire’

Maroon

Acer palmatum – ‘Atropurpureum’

Lagerstoemia – ‘Diamonds in the Dark’ range, featuring near-black foliage

Cercis canadensis ‘Merlot’

Malus ‘Crimson Knight’

Yellow

Ginko biloba

Gleditsia ‘Sunburst’ & ‘Sunmaster’

Fraxinus excelsior ‘Aurea’

– golden ash

Populus ‘Italica’

Betula nigra – tropical birch

Prunus persica – peach & cherry

Orange

Taxodium distichum

– Swamp Cyperus

Autumn colour – evergreen trees and shrubs

With colour foliage that is evergreen there are some native plants that hit the mark. Even the humble bottlebrush have varieties that have spectacular foliage like Callistemon ‘Great Balls of Fire’ and ‘Red Alert’. Often grey foliage is used to pop other colours in the garden, as photographers often use grey backdrops to accent the subject. Wonderful examples of these are Eremophila glabra prostrate ‘Blue Horizon™’ or Westringia ‘Grey Box ™’, they don’t have to be the stars of the garden but help the heroes of the garden shine. 

Other colours that excite in a garden are lime shades, Nandina ‘Lemon Lime’ or Ipomea ‘Lime’ sweet potato. Of course there are all the rich maroon colours such as Loropetalum ‘Plum Gorgeous’, Azalea purperea, Alternanthera and Cordyline ‘Firestorm’.

Top evergreen trees and shrubs by autumn colour

Red

Photinia ‘Red Robin’

Croton Mammy

Metrosideros ‘Fiji Fire’

Poinsettia

Hibiscus cotton wood

Melaleuca ‘Claret Tops’

Nandina ‘Blush’ or ‘Sunset Boulevard’

Lime

Nandina ‘Lemon Lime’

Acacia ‘Limelight’

Acmena ‘Sublime’

Agonis ‘Lemon & Lime’

Lomandra ‘Lime Devine’

Maroon

Heuchera Fire Alarm

Leptospermum ‘Copper Glow’

Azalea purperea

Loropetalum ‘Plum Gorgeous’

Alternanthera ‘Little Ruby’

Agonis flexuosa ‘Burgandy’

Canna ‘Show Off’

Colocasia ‘Black Magic’

Yellow

Melaleuca ‘Revolution Gold’

Juniperus conferta ‘All Gold’

Lysimachia Creeping Jenny

Grey

Westringia ‘Grey Box’

Dichrondra ‘Silver Falls’

Helichysum Curry Bush

Lavender dentata

Teucrium fruticans ‘Silver Box’

Stachy Lambs Ears

Blue

Senecio ‘Blue Chalk Sticks’

Festuca glauca

Dianella ‘Clarity Blue’

Juniperus ‘Blue Arrow’

Brown

Sedum ‘Chocolate Blob’

Aeonium ‘Chocolate’

Check out even more varieties with a huge range of colour: Coprosmos, Sedums, Coleus and Euonymus.