12 Stunning Trees in Australia

From the red-sand deserts to its hundreds of National Parks, the beautiful country of Australia is every nature lover’s dream. In Australia, trees have a place in every garden, from suburban backyards to the inner city courtyards of Sydney and Melbourne. Not only are trees breathtaking to look at and add beauty to all different types of landscapes, but trees can also provide shade and privacy. Furthermore, trees are essential to ecosystems, providing homes to native birds, attracting bees, and improving the environment.

This article will explore the most stunning trees in the country of Australia. If you call Australia home, you can plant these in your garden and see them all over the country.

1. Golden Wattle

Australia’s national floral emblem is Acacia pycnantha, commonly known as the golden wattle. It is one of the most popular and beautiful trees in the country, with Wattle Day celebrated by some on September 1 every year. It belongs to the family Fabaceae, with an estimated 850 species. Wattle can grow to heights of eight meters (26 feet). It is more common to see them in compact forms of shrubs, ground covers, screening plants, or grown in large pots. Although this tree is an Australian native, some species are considered weeds.

The golden wattle has flattened and sickle-shaped leaf stalks rather than a regular leaf shape. It is hardy, easy to grow, and quick to mature. The beautiful yellow wattle flowers are fragrant, and its array of splendid yellow and golden masses appear in late winter and spring. Several species of thornbills and honeyeaters cross-pollinate these trees as they brush against the flowers and transfer pollen between them.

These trees have excellent tolerance for extremes of heat and cold but prefer sunny to semi-shaded locations. They are hardy, water-wise plants. Pruning them when they are young, after flowering, can prolong their life and keep them compact and bushy.

2. Acacia

Acacia pycnantha is just one type of acacia tree found in Australia. There are 1,350 species of acacia, belonging to the family Fabaceae, throughout the world (including in Africa’s southern tropics and subtropics), with 1,000 of these growing in Australia and commonly referred to as wattles.

The leaves of these primarily small to medium shrubs are often a beautiful blue-green or a stunning silver-gray that is fern-like when young and, in many species, remain that way until adulthood. The elegant flowers are cream, white, or yellow, producing a bountiful array of densely clustered blossoms amassed around short branches from late winter into spring.

Acacias produce a resinous gum that can be used in cooking and medicine, and has been utilized in pharmaceuticals, baking ingredients, tools, and woodwork for centuries. It has a long history of use by the indigenous populations around Australia and in civilizations as ancient as the Egyptians, who put it to use in diverse ways, from making desserts to treating hemorrhoids. In addition, the seeds of several species of acacia are edible.

Acacia can be found in crushed, ground, and in complete form. However, most of the time, acacia is usually in its natural gum form, which has a naturally sticky texture. Medicinally, it helps to relieve pain and irritation and wound healing, and it promotes oral health. It is also an excellent source of fiber.

These trees serve best as hedges or feature plants. They are fast growers and prefer full-sun conditions in light-free-draining soil. They grow best when given reliable watering in summer but are drought-tolerant once established. Once the acacia takes root and flowers in the spring, caretakers can lightly prune it. Seeds chiefly cultivate it.

3. Bottlebrush

Bottlebrush belongs to the myrtle (Myrtaceae) family and has more than 30 species. It grows in all areas of Australia, lives long, and is almost impossible to kill. Its common name, bottlebrush, refers to the shape of its red, pink, cream, or green flowers. Bottlebrush has abundant and bright, thread-like flowers. Most bottlebrushes show off a colorful exhibition of bottle-like flowers over long periods, attracting many birds.

Bottlebrushes can grow up to three meters (10 feet) high, and most trees evolve into a mass of fine, arching branches around their trunks. The leaves of the bottlebrush are lance-shaped and settled spirally around the stem. The new growth has rich bronze or pink tones.

These trees prefer a sunny position in moist, acidic soil. Even though they can survive a minimal amount of frost, they won’t tolerate prolonged winters. Also, late frost can damage the tree’s new growth. Regular trimming keeps them tidy and encourages bushier development and more outstanding flower production. The cuttings or seeds of this tree can propagate bottlebrush.

4. Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus trees are as iconically Australian as the koalas that feed on their leaves. The eucalyptus tree belongs to the myrtle (Myrtaceae) family and is one of the most popular Australian native trees. These trees dominate Australian landscapes, forming forests in all environments except the most arid deserts.

Eucalyptus trees are commonly called gum trees in Australia (although technically some trees known as gums are not actually eucalypts). There are more than 800 species of eucalyptus, and the Greek name “eu-kalypto” translates “to cover,” which refers to the flower bud’s cap.

Eucalypts are graceful trees and range in size from multi-stemmed shrubs to immense single-trunk trees. These trees have multi-colored peeling bark and aromatic leaves dotted with oil glands.

Eucalyptus oil distills from the leaves. This oil serves a wide range of purposes, such as cleaning and as an industrial solvent. Eucalyptus can also be part of food supplements, sweets, cough drops, toothpaste, and decongestant products. In addition, aromatherapists have adopted eucalyptus oil for many purposes, including relaxation and meditation.

The younger species typically have circular leaves, while the more mature trees have sickle-shaped leaves. The eucalyptus tree has flowers throughout the year, which contain hundreds of stamens that emerge from a central cone-like bud. They come in a range of colors ranging from white to deep pink, and bright red to vibrant orange and lime green. This attracts large, colorful birds and a range of native bee species.

Most eucalypts are fast-growing with a long life and are best suited to semi-arid or warm-temperate regions. Once established, these trees are tolerant to drought but won’t survive prolonged winters or repeated severe frosts.

5. Frangipani

Although frangipanis are native to Mexico, Venezuela, and Central Mexico, they can survive and thrive in warm and temperate Australian climates and appear in many gardens around the country. (These frangipanis, Plumeria rubra, are different from Hymenosporum flavum, which is known as native frangipani and grows in the rainforests of Queensland and New South Wales.)

These trees are also known as plumeria and belong to the Apocynaceae family. The most striking characteristic of the frangipani tree is its sweet and fragrant flowers that bloom from the warmer months of November to April. The beautiful colors of the flowers vary enormously, nearly producing every shade of the rainbow in vibrant pink, yellow, orange, and even dark shades of mahogany red. Birds, insects, and butterflies are drawn to frangipanis for their sweet scent.

6. Crepe Myrtle

Crepe myrtles are one of the world’s best flowering trees and belong to the Lythraceae family. The most widely available species of crepe myrtle in Australia is the Lagerstroemia indica and flowers in an array of colors ranging from red, pink, and deep mauve to white. Crepe myrtle gets its name from the beautiful flowers they produce. Each petal is like crepe paper and very wrinkly and crinkly.

The Lagerstroemia genus is an adaptable tree available in many sizes, from shrubs and miniatures to trim trees and larger varieties that grow up to six meters (20 feet) tall. The crepe myrtle trees are hardy with colorful fall foliage and spectacular trunks with beautiful ornate bark.

These trees are beautiful year-round. They have gorgeous foliage in the autumn and spring, with glorious red, pink, and white colors from the flowers in the summer. Crepe myrtles grow well in Australia because they like hot, dry climates and can be remarkably drought-tolerant.

7. Dogwood

The dogwood is from the Cornaceae family and originates in Europe and North America. It is arguably one of the most beautiful of flowering trees.

The most popular dogwood in Australia is Cornus florida, commonly known as the flowering dogwood, a wide-spreading deciduous tree found in the cooler areas of the country. Typically growing to around 10 meters (33 feet) tall, this species of dogwood has low branches and is pyramidal. It has oval, dark green leaves that turn into lovely red shades in autumn. These trees are sturdy and adaptable to their environments.

Many species of dogwood are grown for their ornamental value in gardens or cities. Species of dogwood offer beautifully colored autumn foliage, develop colorful stems in winter, or develop decorative pink or flushed red color in summer and spring.

The flowers are tiny and yellowish-green that bloom early in spring. The flowers compact into button-like clusters surrounded by four bracts, which showcase large flowers when opened. Varieties of flowering dogwood have white, pink or red flowers. The bright red fruits of the dogwood fully develop in late summer to early fall, and all types of birds love and visit them.

Most of these flourish in a climate with definite seasons. They require winter cold for their flowers to prosper. Dogwoods need to be planted in full sun or part shade and watered frequently in the warmer months.

8. Poinciana

Poinciana trees are popular in Australia, especially in southeast Queensland and Brisbane, where they can be found lining the streets. Native to Madagascar and belonging to the Fabaceae family, the tree is known for its vibrant orange flowers, welcoming the coming of summer and signaling the start of storm season.

The poinciana (Delonix regia) is an ornamental favorite for its fern-like leaves and large spanning branches that provide ample shade as an umbrella canopy and appear in vivid colors ranging from red to orange through the summer months. It is a semi-deciduous tree that sheds old leaves in spring, with new ones following immediately. It has bright green foliage and drops flowers, leaves, and seeds.

The tree is slow-growing, and although the average height is three to five meters (10-16 feet), it can reach heights of up to 10 meters (32 feet). The poinciana requires regular pruning and work to maintain its structure and healthy look.

9. Magnolia

Magnolia trees stem from the family Magnoliaceau and are an ancient group of slow-growing deciduous plants that are one the hardiest flowering plants. Magnolias can be found in many gardens in Australia, particularly along the Great Dividing Range and in south-east Australia where there is sufficient rain (or irrigation available) and cool winters. The most commonly grown magnolias in the country are the soulangeana hybrids (Hybrid Magnolia – Magnolia x soulangeana cv.).

Magnolias have thick leaves and attractive foliage throughout the year. In the winter and early spring, magnolia trees produce magnificent blossoms. Colors range from white and pink to burgundy shades. This tree evolved long before bees, so beetles singularly pollinate them. Their fruity fragrance attracts the beetles. The blossoms also attract songbirds and provide shelter and seed for migrating birds. It takes magnolia trees three years to develop enough to flower; after 10 years, they can grow to around five meters (16 feet) tall. At this point, they will have set a rounded crown of growth.

These trees prefer mild or cool climates and won’t tolerate temperatures below zero. Therefore, they should be well-watered and planted in a sheltered spot away from hot winds and afternoon sun in subtropical zones.

10. Oak

While the best-known oak tree is the English oak, it is just one of the 600 species that make up the genus of the beech family Fagaceae. There are many types of oaks found in Australia, including the red oak, sawtooth oak, Algerian oak, and pin oak. The Bland Oak is one of the largest and oldest living introduced trees in Sydney at more than 170 years old.

Many species of the oak tree are long-living, large, and impressive trees with a domed canopy and broadly branching habitat. While some oaks’ leaves are lobed with distinct projections and individual inside veins, others have foliage with a leaf margin that looks like a saw or serrated knife.

In the springtime, specs of pale yellow or tiny green flowers open, followed by the cupped fruits called acorns. Because of their large size, oak trees are best suited to street planting and more significant properties.

11. Holly

A member of the Aquifoliaceae family, holly is synonymous with Christmas for its dark, prickly leaves and red berries used in floral decorations. However, in Australia, the holly tree develops in autumn.

Holly prefers cooler climates and needs to be watered well in the summer and planted in deep, well-drained soil. The berries mature from greenish-white flowers from late spring to early summer. They range in color from white, orange, and yellow to its famous red. These berries are eaten by birds, which then disperse the seeds into the landscape.

However, holly can be problematic as it is an invasive threat to native species and considered an environmental weed in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania.

11. Juniper

The Juniperus genus contains around 60 species of coniferous evergreen trees and shrubs and belongs to the cypress family Cupressaceae. Junipers typically grow to four to 10 meters (13-33 feet), but five meters (16 feet) is often the maximum height, even in native habitats.

Junipers are beautiful and valued for their ornamental properties in any garden, with their impressive foliage of dense leaves with exquisite color and texture. Crushed juniper foliage produces intense aromas. The juniper trees have fleshy berry-like cones, which ripen to a reddish or blue-black color, and berries of Juniperus communis are edible and used in the distillation of gin. The word for gin translates from the French word “genévrier” and the Dutch word “jenever,” which both mean juniper. Juniper berries ripen over two or three ears. In gin, the distinctive taste depends on where you source the juniper berries.

While Juniperus communis is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, it has only begun to be grown in Australia with some success in recent years, driven by the gin industry. Challenges to growth have been a limited number of areas with a suitable climate (crops are being grown in cooler climates of Victoria and Tasmania) and the slow growth rate of the tree.

The juniper tree’s sturdiness varies, but all juniper trees tolerate repeated frosts, and the toughest can survive cool summers and sub-arctic winters. Most junipers are drought-tolerant but will respond well to regular summer watering. Plant junipers in an open, airy position with many suns and well-drained soil.

Summary of 12 Stunning Trees in Australia

Here’s a recap of the dozen beautiful trees found in Australia that we took a look at.