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Did you know that Boroondara’s tree canopy cover has been shrinking, down about 1.7% since 2022? We’re working to grow it to 30% canopy cover by 2040 across public and private land. But we can’t reach this goal without your help.
Autumn's the best time to plant a tree, so our trees team has put together a guide to choosing the right one for your place. You'll find tree-planting tips below too.
How big: 2 to 4 m tall in the ground, or 1 to 2 m in a large pot on a balcony or in a courtyard.
Why we love it: Fragrant white blossoms and homegrown limes make this a rewarding choice for beginner gardeners.
Its happy place: Full sun and a big pot.
Top tip: Be patient – it can take a year or 2 to produce reliable crops.
Size: 3 to 4 m tall
Why we love it: This small tree with non-showy foliage produces tiny cream to pale apricot-coloured flowers with a truly beautiful fragrance.
Its happy place: Well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.
Top tip: If you have space for a screening or backdrop tree this is the one to plant. If you have a weedy privet (Ligustrum) growing in your garden, remove it immediately and replace it with this!
Size: 4 to 6 m tall.
Why we love it: It has rich purple leaves in summer which turn brilliant red in autumn.
Its happy place: Great as a garden feature tree, in a courtyard or in a large pot. It prefers a semi-shaded location, protected from strong afternoon sun and hot winds to prevent leaf scorch.
Our top tip: Choose a sheltered spot to protect its delicate leaves from strong wind.
Size: Around 6 to 7 m tall.
Why we love it: This indigenous Victorian tree produces clusters of yellow flowers in summer that attract pollinators, adding colour to your garden.
Its happy place: Grows well in full sun to part shade and prefers moist soils. Copes well with wet conditions.
Top tip: The form ‘Luscious’ has a fuller look with larger leaves and a lush canopy.
Size: Around 5 to 7 m tall.
Why we love it: Offers summer flowers, autumn colour and decorative bark that reveals smooth, patterned trunks as the tree matures.
Its happy place: This tree loves the heat. Plant in a sunny spot – the more sun it gets, the better the flowering.
Top tip: Avoid heavy pruning, as this species looks best with its natural shape.
Size: Up to 20 m tall
Why we love it: Also known as a Sydney red gum, its broad canopy is complemented by smooth bark that peels to reveal pink, orange and grey tones.
Its happy place: Needs lots of sunshine and space.
Top tip: Give it room for a canopy width of up to 12 m. The twisting branches and glowing bark make it a living sculpture in the landscape.
Size: Around 6 to 8 m tall.
Why we love it: This native beauty's striking red bottlebrush flowers in spring attract birds, bees and other pollinators.
Its happy place: Thrives in full sun and adapts well to most soils.
Top tip: Give it plenty of space (around 4 to 6 m wide) to show off its natural weeping form. It makes a stunning feature tree.
Size: 12 m tall and 5 m wide.
Why we love it: The contrast of bright butter-yellow foliage against a cloudless, blue Melbourne autumn sky is really something.
Its happy place: Tolerates a range of soil types, but needs good drainage.
Top tip: If you don’t have room for a full-sized Ginkgo, the recently introduced ‘Lemonlime Spire’ should grow to 5 m by 1 m. ‘Blagon Fanfare’ grows to 8 m by 2 m.
Planting a tree correctly from the start will help it thrive for years to come. Use these step-by-step instructions to establish your tree properly.
Find a list of many more small, medium and large trees on our Choosing suitable tree species page.
