Golden chain tree
These small, fairly erect trees put on a stupendous display of pendulous blossoms that look like wisteria flowers, only in golden yellow. These appear in early to midspring, along with the new leaves. There are a couple of types sold but Laburnum x watereri ‘Vossii’ has flower clusters that droop half a metre or more. Average garden soil will do as long as it drains well.
Facts
Size: 5–7m tall, erect at first, spreading with age
Habit: Deciduous
Aspect: Full sun
Climate: Needs a prolonged chilly winter – takes any frost level
Botanic name: Laburnum anagyroides; L. x watereri
Redbud
About September, the rosy-purple flowers appear along the branches of this lovely tree, well before the leaves get a look in. In nature, they’re often found in moist, rich soil along streams and they’re easy to grow in cooler areas as long as they don’t suffer prolonged dryness. There are at least three species available in Australia. All look good teamed with pink or white dogwoods.
Facts
Size: 6–10m tall with a similar spread
Habit: Deciduous
Aspect: Full sun or afternoon shade
Climate: Takes any frost
Botanic name: Cercis canadensis; C. siliquastrum; C. chinensis
Trumpet tree
There are many species in this big tropical genus, but in Australia we mostly see two: one with pink, the other with golden flowers. Both are remarkable, flowering in August or September on leafless branches. They are fastgrowing and start flowering when quite young. They’re at their magnificent best in Brisbane and areas north.
Facts
Size: 10–15m tall and wide
Habit: Deciduous
Aspect: Full sun
Climate: Winter minimums above 6°C, dryish winter, hot rainy summer
Botanic name: Tabebuia argentea; T. chrysantha
Dogwood
Very popular in southern highland areas, where the cold winters and warm to hot and humid summers suit it, the dogwood has to be one of the prettiest small trees you can grow. Flowers are white, pink or rosy red and the leaves turn a deep red in autumn before falling. Average, free-draining garden soil suits them, as long as you water them when the rain stays away, especially in summer.
Facts
Size: 5m tall but usually wider
Habit: Deciduous
Aspect: Full sun or with a few hours broken shade
Climate: Chilly winter, warm to hot summer, good rainfall
Botanic name: Cornus florida
Wisteria
Draped over a stout pergola, running along a house wall or even grown as a short-trunked, free-standing ‘tree’, the lovely wisteria never fails to attract gasps of admiration and desire in spring. It’s an easy plant to grow anywhere winters are at least cool, but it is a vigorous grower and does need at least annual pruning to keep it within bounds. Sweetly fragrant blue to lilac blossoms appear in early spring along with the new leaves.
Facts
Size: Very large but usually pruned
Habit: Deciduous
Aspect: Full sun
Climate: Takes any frost but also mild winters
Botanic name: Wisteria sinensis.
Flowering cherry
So lovely and popular in springtime, the flowering cherries have now been bred into dozens of different forms that mature into plants of various shapes and sizes, with flowers in pink or white. Weeping forms with strongly pendulous branches are most elegant and, because they grow on tall straight trunks (called standards), they are ideal for smaller spaces. Tree matures to a range of sizes, but all are magnificent in bloom.
Facts
Size: 3–10m tall depending on species and cultivar
Habit: Deciduous
Aspect: Full sun
Climate: Chilly to cold winter is essential
Botanic name: Prunus subhirtella; P. serrulata.
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