7 Best Australian Shade Trees 2023 (2024)

Shade Trees Australia

Planting a shade tree is a great way to ensure your landscape is protected during summer and open to sunlight during winter. It is also a great investment for our future generations. Not only are shade trees great for a dramatic effect, especially in autumn, but having trees in highly populated areas helps with the Urban Heat Island Effect by lowering the temperature of our cities. Having shade trees in big open spaces also allows for the area to cool down the landscape especially in our very harsh Australian summer.

At Kilby, we stock some of the most popular and beautiful trees to provide shade.

One of our favourites is Quercus palustris, more commonly known as Pin Oak.

This great specimen grows at around 30 meters tall and 15 meters wide making it a statement in any landscape. In summer, Pin Oaks are covered with nice bright lustrous green foliage that provide cooling and beautiful shade. In Autumn, the foliage changes to a reddish brown that lasts from the start of winter and remains until early spring. Once spring arrives, the new buds emerge and the cycle repeats itself. Another fact, is pin oak leaves make excellent home compost when shredded.

Quercus Rubra

Quercus rubra or Red Oak is another fantastic shade tree. This stunning giant red oak brings some drama to the landscape. Achieving a height of 30 meters tall and a width of 10 meters, this fast-growing deciduous tree is perfect for any larger landscape. In summer, Red Oaks have a glossy green dense foliage canopy which provides lovely shade. In Autumn, the leaves turn gradually from rich red to deep burgundy, providing a fantastic show. In winter, the bare branches allow sunlight to filter through the canopy, providing much needed sun to us and our underplanting.

Platanus orientalis ‘Digitata’ Plane Trees

Platanus orientalis ‘Digitata’ or the Plane Tree is an excellent all-season tree. A favourite avenue tree of many councils including the City of Melbourne, Plane trees can grow to around 15 meters in height and 10 meters wide with a generous canopy to walk under and enjoy the shade in spring and summer. One reason why these trees are so popular in urban environments is their ability to catch nasty C02 from the air and shed it through their bark, which gives the plane tree its iconic mottled bark. The maple-like leaves are a bright, lime green in summer and turn a buttery yellow in Autumn. Their distinctive shape makes them a perennial favourite of children to collect.

Liriodendon tulipfera

Liriodendon tulipfera or Tulip Tree is a gorgeous specimen tree to include in any landscape. This beautiful shade tree is very well suited to public spaces because of its large size. It has waxy, bright green foliage in spring to light golden yellow in the autumn months. In summer, the tulip tree lives up to its name with orange and green tulip-shaped flowers which sit upright on the stems. These charming trees grow up to 20 meters high and 8 meters wide, making them an ideal shade tree with plenty of perks.

Liriodendon fastiagata

Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Fastigiata’ or the Upright Tulip Tree has all the lovely features of the tulipfera, but made for narrow spaces. This beautiful tree grows to around 20 meters in height and 4 meters wide with vibrant autumn colour. similar palmate foliage and cupped flowers as the Liriodendon tulipfera, this stunning shade tree is sure to create vertical interest in the garden.

Acer rubrum ‘October Glory

Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’ or the Lipstick Maple is a delightful shade tree that will command attention in the landscape. In summer, the Lipstick Maple has radiant dark green palmate leaves that transform into varying shades of dark pink, fire-engine red to deep maroons. No wonder they call it lipstick; it is a show-stopper! This medium-sized tree is perfect for avenue planting, public parks, and home gardens, growing to 12 meters high and 9 meters wide.

Acer rubrum ‘Autumn Blaze’

Another colourful and stunning tree for shade is Acer rubrum ‘Autumn Blaze’ or ‘Jeffers Red.’ This amazing tree adds a grand canopy as it grows to around 13 meters high and 10 meters wide. The dense foliage of rich green leaves makes it an ideal spot for picnics and catching up on a good book. Like the ‘October Glory,’ the leaves of the ‘Autumn Blaze’ are known for their stunning Autumn senescence. The reds in the ‘Autumn Blaze’ are slightly brighter and more vibrant than the more burgundy reds of the ‘October Glory.’ Great for avenues or as a feature tree, Acer ‘Autumn Blaze’ is just magnificent.

Pyrus nivalis

Pyrus nivalis or ‘Snow Pear’ is one feature tree that is perfect for shade and a stunning specimen all year around. In spring, it displays small white delicate flowers that make it an amazing showcase. During summer it has bright silvery green foliage and with a canopy expanding to almost 7 meters. Pyrus provides delightful shade in the hottest months and in Autumn the leaves turn a dark crimson red. It’s no wonder this is a tree of choice for many gardeners and professional landscapers.