Spring Selections for Summer Flowering

Spring Selections for Summer Flowering

Nothing lifts a garden through the warmer months like a tree in full flower. From the pretty pink crinkled blooms of Crepe Myrtle to the large, fragrant flowers of evergreen Magnolia and the unmistakable purple haze of a Jacaranda, summer flowering trees turn an ordinary garden into something people stop to look at. 

Late winter into early spring is an ideal time to get them in the ground, so they settle before rewarding you with colour through the warmer summer and autumn months.

The selections below are our pick of the summer-flowering trees we grow, chosen because they perform reliably in Australian gardens and give a long, generous display. 

With nearly 50 years of growing containerised landscape trees for Victorian and cool temperate regions, our selected varieties earn their place year after year. Browse the range below, and read on for how to choose the right one for your space, colour scheme and climate.

Purple flowering Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) 'Sioux' in full summer bloom in an Australian garden.

Why Plant Before Spring for Summer Flowering

Planting in or before spring gives a tree time to establish new roots in warming soil before the demands of summer arrive. 

For the flowering trees in this collection, that head start means a stronger first season and a better display. 

While you can plant Crepe Myrtles year-round, for a full flush of flowers we recommend that they are planted before the onset of spring. This enables them to establish well before warmer weather and warmer soils encourage bountiful blooms typically from mid to late summer. Evergreen Magnolias and other warmer-climate feature trees are comfortable being planted any time of year. 

Whichever you choose, deep, regular watering through the first summer is what sets up years of reliable flowering.

Our Spring Selections for Summer Flowering

Each tree below is grown with a strong single leader and is ready to plant. Typical container sizes are listed for each variety.

Explore the full Crepe Myrtle range, evergreen Magnolia range and other feature flowering trees for more options.

Crepe Myrtles (Lagerstroemia)

These are our deciduous workhorses for summer colour. Modern Indica x fauriei Crepe Myrtles flower for months, colour up beautifully in autumn and reveal smooth, mottled bark in winter. Four varieties feature in this selection.

Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Natchez' (white)

A very popular line and one of the taller varieties. 'Natchez' is a deciduous tree that produces spectacular masses of white crinkled flowers through late summer, with dark green leaves turning to orange before falling. The smooth, flaky bark is a feature in its own right, giving the tree year-round interest even when bare.

Typical container sizes: 40cm/27L, 50cm/52L, 150L, 200L

Lagerstroemia 'Natchez' (white Crepe Myrtle) in full summer flower.

Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Sioux' (Musk Pink)

A standout for visual impact over a long period, 'Sioux' produces masses of hot musk pink flowers from late summer into autumn. Blooms are followed by some of the strongest autumn colour of the range, in yellows, reds and oranges. A smooth trunk and caramel pink under-bark carry the interest through winter.

Typical container sizes: 50cm/52, 200L

Lagerstroemia 'Sioux' (musk pink Crepe Myrtle) in late summer flower

Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Tuscarora' (hot pink)

One of the tallest crepe myrtles we grow. 'Tuscarora' produces vibrant hot pink, crinkled flowers en masse in late summer. Because the flower heads form on new growth, a late winter prune encourages a stronger flowering season. The smooth bark is beige with red-brown streaks, and the foliage turns reddish-orange in autumn.

Typical container sizes: 40 cm / 27L, 50 cm / 52L, 150L, 200L

Lagerstroemia 'Tuscarora' (hot pink Crepe Myrtle) as a mature specimen in full flower

Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Zuni' (purple)

Grown with a single leader, this is a stunning, free-flowering small tree to a mature height of around 4 metres, making 'Zuni' a good choice for smaller gardens. Shiny dark green leaves are tinged with red when young, before producing masses of purple flowers from mid-summer. In autumn, foliage turns a mix of rich oranges, reds and maroons before mottled bark peels away leaving smooth bare limbs in winter. Like the others, it's quite the all-rounder for interest in the small garden.

Container sizes: 40 cm / 27L, 100L, 200L

Lagerstroemia 'Zuni' (purple Crepe Myrtle) showing purple summer flowers.

Evergreen Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

For large, fragrant flowers and year-round structure, the evergreen Magnolias are hard to beat. Two compact cultivars feature here, both well suited to modern gardens and screening.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear' (evergreen)

An evergreen magnolia growing to around 4 metres, 'Teddy Bear' has rounded, cup-shaped leaves that sit tighter on the tree, giving it a fuller, denser appearance than other varieties. As is customary with Magnolia, it produces beautiful large creamy white flowers, from spring through summer and into autumn, over a rich green, velvet-backed canopy.

Typical container sizes: 40 cm/27L, 50 cm/52L, 100L

Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear' (evergreen Magnolia) has large white flowers and glossy foliage.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Kay Parris' (evergreen)

This is a beautiful evergreen with dark green glossy leaves and a brown, velvety underside as expected of Magnolia. 'Kay Parris' produces enormous, creamy white, fragrant flowers, and differentiates itself by its wavy leaf edge and its bright pink new foliage growth. A refined choice for a feature tree or planted in multiples for a fragrant evergreen screen.

Typical container sizes: 40 cm/27L, 50 cm/52L, 100L

Magnolia grandiflora 'Kay Parris' (evergreen Magnolia) with creamy white flowers and wavy leaf edges

Statement Feature Trees

Brachychiton acerifolius x populneus 'Jerilderie Red'

Brachychiton comes into its own during summer, when the tree is a mass of flowers. As the name suggests, 'Jerilderie Red' produces powdery red, bell-like flowers that sit in clusters. As a grafted tree, it is more compact in size, which makes it highly suitable for domestic landscapes and a wonderful specimen tree. 

Container sizes: 40 cm/27L, 50 cm/52L

Brachychiton acerifolius x populneus 'Jerilderie Red' with red bell-shaped summer flowers

Jacaranda mimosifolia

Probably our most iconic summer variety. This fast-growing Jacaranda is easy to spot thanks to the purple, bell-shaped flowers that cover the tree from late spring into summer. It offers good canopy cover and true stand-out summer appeal, and is a long-time favourite of many gardeners.

Typical container sizes: 40 cm/27L, 50 cm/52L, 100L, 200L

Jacaranda mimosifolia in full purple bloom as a feature shade tree. Perfect for parks and gardens.

Summer Flowering Trees at a Glance

A quick reference for comparing the varieties in this selection by colour, flowering time, size and type

When to plant

Spring is an excellent window for planting summer flowering trees, giving roots time to establish before the heat. Deciduous varieties such as Crepe Myrtle also establish very well when planted while dormant in winter. Containerised stock can be planted year-round with care.

Position and sun

Most summer flowering trees want full sun, ideally six hours or more a day, for the best flowering. Shaded positions reduce the display. Free-draining soil suits all the varieties in this selection; none enjoy waterlogged ground.

Watering and mulch

Water deeply and regularly through the first two summers to build a strong root system. Once established, these trees are far more resilient, though they flower best with deep watering during dry spells. Mulch the root zone with five to seven centimetres of organic matter, kept clear of the trunk, to hold moisture and moderate soil temperature.

Pruning for better flowering

Crepe Myrtles flower on new growth, so a light prune in late winter encourages a stronger flowering season. Evergreen Magnolias need little pruning beyond shaping which is best done in early to late Spring. Avoid heavy reduction, which can spoil their natural form.

Planting and Care for Summer Flowering Trees

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best summer flowering trees for Australian gardens?

Crepe Myrtle, evergreen Magnolia, Jacaranda and flowering Brachychiton are among the most reliable summer-flowering trees for Australian gardens. Crepe Myrtle offers the longest display and the widest colour range, Magnolia adds year-round evergreen structure, and Jacaranda brings unmistakable purple in warmer positions.

When do these trees flower?

Most flower from mid-summer, though timing varies by variety. Jacaranda and some Magnolias begin in late spring, while Crepe Myrtles peak in late summer and can carry into autumn. Planting in spring sets the tree up for the summer that follows.

Can I plant flowering trees in spring?

Yes. Spring is one of the best times to plant summer flowering trees, as the soil is warming and the tree has time to establish before summer. Our containerised trees can be planted through spring without disturbing the root ball.

Which summer flowering trees suit a small garden?

For smaller gardens, 'Zuni' crepe myrtle and the compact evergreen Magnolias 'Teddy Bear' and 'Kay Parris' sit comfortably around 4 metres. Browse more small trees in the 4 to 8 metre range for other options.

Are there evergreen summer flowering trees?

Yes. The evergreen Magnolias in this selection, 'Teddy Bear' and 'Kay Parris', flower through the warmer months while holding their glossy foliage all year, which makes them ideal where you want privacy or structure as well as flowers.

Ready to Plant for Summer Colour?

These spring selections are ready to plant now for flowering through the summer ahead. 

Browse the varieties above to check current sizes and availability, explore more feature flowering trees, or get in touch and our team will help you match the right summer flowering tree to your garden, climate and colour scheme.