Deciduous Trees and Shrubs

Ficus carica Sweet Temptation is the perfect choice for gardens where space is at a premium. One of the smallest-growing fig varieties in Australia, it offers all the flavour and charm of traditional figs in a compact, highly productive form. A prolific bearer, Sweet Temptation can produce two crops each year—one in summer and another in early winter. Early-season fruit is tear-drop shaped, while the later crop develops into plumper, rounded figs with rich red to maroon flesh. Exceptionally versatile, these delicious figs are ideal for eating fresh, and shine in cooking, baking, jams, preserves, desserts, cocktails, and on cheese platters. For best results, fertilise at planting and again once new growth appears. Prune at planting to encourage strong branching and a bushy, productive shape.

Soil: Well-drained and well-worked soil.
Conditions: Sunny position. This is the ideal variety for home gardeners as it is suited to warmer tropics as well as cooler regions
Size: Height 3m x width 3m

Diospyros kaki Jiro Non-Astringent Persimmon is a highly decorative, deciduous tree producing delicious large orange fruits with orange-red flesh. The non-astringent varieties can be eaten while firm as opposed to astringent varieties which are sharp and bitter to taste until they have ripened almost to-jelly softness. Jiro non-astringent can be picked and eaten straight from the tree just like a sweet, juicy apple, from February to May. The calyx of the fruit will start to curl up indicating the fruit is ready to be picked. In autumn, the leaves will change into a beautiful display of warm colours and slowly fall off into the hibernation of winter. Persimmons are perfect for fruit salad, baked goods, preserves, cheese platters or dried fruit.

Soil: Rich, fertile soil.
Conditions: Sheltered sunny position. Cold, frost and coastal tolerant. Protect from wind.
Size: Height 5m x width 4m

Embrace the 'TropicBeauty' Peach, a marvel of fruiting excellence tailored for subtropical climates. This self-fertile peach variety thrives in warm temperate regions, boasting medium-sized fruits adorned with an attractive red blush over a yellow background. The flesh is yellow, melting, and semi-clingstone, offering a firm texture and excellent flavour ideal for low-chill environments. With minimal chilling requirements of just 150 hours, this peach tree bears large, round fruits with very good skin colour. 'TropicBeauty' is a deciduous tree that matures to a height of 2-5 metres and can be pruned to a compact 2 metres, making it suitable for smaller gardens and large pots (35L+). Expect fruiting within 2-3 years after planting, with harvest months in November and December, delivering a bounty of delectable peaches.

Soil: Requires well-drained soil with neutral pH (6.6-7.3).
Conditions: Thrives in full sun (80%-100%) and tolerates moderate frosts.
Size: 2-5m H x 2-4m W

Chanticleer pear trees are a garden favourite for both the visual interest they offer and their rich profusion of flowers. The showy white blossoms appear in clusters in springtime. The fruit follows the flowers, but don’t expect pears if you start growing Chanticleer pears! The “fruit” of Callery Chanticleer pears is brown or russet and the size of a pea. Birds love it and it clings to the branches into winter, helping to feed wildlife when little else is available. Chanticleer (Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’) is a cultivar of the Callery ornamental pear and has a growth habit that is neat and tailored with a slender pyramid shape. Chanticleer pear trees are thornless and grow fairly rapidly. Excellent for sites where lateral space is restricted. Its tough disposition and aesthetic attributes combine to make a wonderfully versatile tree for home gardens or streets and public areas.

Soil: Well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun. Frost, heat, drought and coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 11m x width 6m

The Betula pendula Purpurea, commonly known as the Purple Leaf Birch, is an elegant, medium-sized deciduous tree admired for its striking contrast of deep purple-black foliage against silvery-white bark. As the bark matures, it develops darker, textured tones—eventually becoming a beautiful blackish grey, adding year-round visual interest to the landscape. With its graceful, slender form and gently drooping branches, the Purple Leaf Birch makes a superb specimen or feature tree, while also looking stunning when planted in groups to create soft shade or structural contrast. Its fine-textured foliage and ornamental bark make it equally at home in formal gardens, mixed borders, or parkland-style plantings.

Soil: Moist, well-drained, fertile soil
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; prefers cooler climates
Size: Height 8–12 m × Width 4–6 m

The Snow Pear is a picturesque deciduous tree with masses of white spring blossoms. The emerging downy leaves become a striking silver/grey/green as they mature. The foliage provides a visual show in autumn when it becomes a beautiful deep red before falling. The Snow Pear tolerates pruning and lends itself to shaping - adding to its garden versatility. Ideally suited as an ornamental tree, shade tree, specimen tree and spectacular when planted in groves in paddocks.

Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil however it will tolerate poor soils.
Conditions: Full sun or part shade. It is frost, coastal and drought-tolerant once established.
Size: Height 8m x width 5m

Platanus x acerifolia, or London Plane Tree, is an impressive ornamental specimen with generously large, bright green foliage resembling maple leaves. A great feature of the tree is its bark which is a smooth cream colour attractively blotched with grey and brown. Brown seed balls hang like ornaments in winter. Commonly planted as a street tree and in avenues because of its tolerance to heat and pollution.

Soil: Humus-rich, well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun. Tolerates pollution, drought
Size: Height 20-30m x width 10m

The Dawn Redwood - a true living fossil that has been around for the past 50 million years - is a large, fast-growing, deciduous, pyramidal tree. The long spreading branches that droop with age are covered in attractive, feathery foliage. The bark on the trunk becomes deeply fissured over time - each tree produces both male and female cones. Dawn Redwood creates an impact as a stately specimen tree in large parks, gardens and paddocks.

Soil: Well drained, moist and humus rich. It will survive in wet soils.
Conditions: Full sun. Tolerant of periods of inundation, pollution and heavy frosts.
Size: Height 30m x width 6-8m