Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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large deciduous trees

Large deciduous trees are a timeless feature in New Zealand gardens, offering spectacular seasonal changes, impressive shade, and habitat for local wildlife. If you’re looking to create a classic avenue, establish a cooling canopy, or introduce vibrant autumn colour to your landscape, large deciduous trees provide both beauty and long-term value. Their ability to drop leaves in winter allows precious sun to reach your garden and home, while their lush foliage keeps things cool in summer. Discover how these magnificent trees can transform your outdoor space and explore top varieties suited to New Zealand’s unique climate.

Acer platanoides

Acer platanoides, commonly known as the Plane-Leaved Maple or Norway Maple, is a large, deciduous tree featuring impressive autumn colours. The lush foliage emerges light green in spring, ages to dark green, then develops stunning yellow, orange, and red tones in autumn before falling. It grows with an upright, spreading habit and eventually reaches 20 m tall and 10 m wide. Acer platanoides is perfect for large gardens, parks, or avenue planting, and makes for a fantastic shade tree.

Buy Acer platanoides

From $252.95

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Trees

Height: 20.00 m

Spread: 10.00 m

Flowering time: Summer

Garden uses: Avenues, Parks, Specimen

Garden styles: Alpine, Japanese

Platanus acerifolia

Platanus acerifolia, commonly known as the London Plane Tree, is a large, deciduous tree grown for its foliage, stature, and showy fruits. The foliage is lush, dark green, and develops a yellow-brown colour before falling in autumn. A distinctive feature of this tree is the brown bark, which is shed to reveal a cream-white inner bark, resulting in a trunk with a somewhat mottled appearance as it grows to about 25 m tall and 20 m wide (though it can be trimmed as necessary). Platanus acerifolia makes a fantastic shade tree and is commonly grown as a specimen in extensive gardens or parks, or used in an avenue planting.

Buy Platanus acerifolia

From $391.14

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Trees

Height: 25.00 m

Spread: 20.00 m

Flowering time: Spring

Garden uses: Parks, Specimen

Garden styles: Alpine

Why Choose Large Deciduous Trees?

Selecting large deciduous trees brings numerous benefits beyond their stately presence. Their root systems help prevent soil erosion, while many varieties are bustling with birdlife in spring and summer. When planning your garden, consider the mature height and spread of these trees—many grow upwards of 15 metres, making them ideal for open lawns, rural plantings, parks, or large sections. Not only do they provide privacy and shelter, but they create a sense of permanence and legacy in the garden.

Popular Varieties of Large Deciduous Trees

Several varieties thrive throughout New Zealand, each with its own distinct character and seasonal highlights:

Acer platanoides: Known as the Norway Maple, this impressive tree brings boldly shaped leaves and vibrant yellow to orange autumn colour. It’s a reliable choice for avenues, shade, and feature planting.
Platanus acerifolia: The London Plane is famed for its attractive mottled bark and huge stature, providing robust shade and excellent pollution tolerance, making it a classic street and park tree.
Fraxinus excelsior: The Common Ash is valued for its fine foliage, fast growth, and elegance; it makes a splendid statement in larger gardens and is well-suited to open spaces.
Fraxinus excelsior aurea: This Golden Ash offers the same graceful form and structure as the Common Ash, with stunning yellow branches that glow in the winter landscape.

Planting and Caring for Large Deciduous Trees

When planting large deciduous trees, choose a position with ample space to accommodate their mature size. Most prefer deep, well-drained soils and full sun for best growth. In the early years, provide regular watering and mulch to establish a strong root system and suppress weeds. Prune in winter to develop a balanced framework and remove any damaged or crossing branches.

As these trees mature, little maintenance is required beyond annual mulching and checking for any signs of stress. Deciduous varieties are generally resilient against New Zealand’s climate fluctuations, and their winter leaf drop means less raking than you might expect, as falling leaves nourish your soil naturally.

Beyond Shade: Fruiting and Ornamental Choices

Looking for something a bit different? Some large deciduous trees also offer edible rewards. Try the Fig Mrs Williams, a robust fruiting tree that not only provides lush summer foliage but also bears delicious figs for the table.

Create a Lasting Legacy with Large Deciduous Trees

From spectacular autumn displays to sturdy shade and valuable wildlife habitat, large deciduous trees are an investment for generations. Explore our range of proven varieties suitable for New Zealand gardens and create a landscape to cherish for years to come.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.