Dry Tolerant Trees
- Acer freemanii ‘Jeffers Red’ – Freeman Maple is a fast-growing, upright, deciduous tree featuring strong ascending branches and a dense, broad-oval crown. Its rich green summer foliage transforms into brilliant red in autumn, creating a stunning seasonal display. It thrives in moist, well-drained soil but adapts to clay, poor, wet, or dry conditions. More wind-tolerant than other maples. Ideal as a specimen or avenue tree, it reaches approximately 10m tall by 5m wide.
- Callistemon ‘Kings Park Special’ is a vigorous, evergreen small tree native to Australia. Its long, narrow green leaves decorate slightly pendulous branches, creating a graceful form in the garden. Furthermore, masses of red, fluffy, bottlebrush flowers with golden anthers bloom in spring and autumn. These vibrant flowers provide abundant nectar, attracting bees and birds while adding seasonal colour. In addition, this hardy tree tolerates poor dry soils once established, as well as clay, coastal, and windy conditions. However, avoid wet or poorly drained sites. Best grown in full sun, it reaches approximately 3m high and 2m wide if left untrimmed but trimmed also makes an excellent screen or hedge.
- Callistemon ‘Red Cluster’ is an evergreen, vigorous shrub native to Australia. Its upright branches carry short, narrow, stiff dark green leaves that first emerge with a silvery-pink hue, adding seasonal interest. Moreover, masses of striking red bottlebrush flowers with golden anthers appear in spring and autumn. These blooms provide nectar for bees and birds, making the shrub both decorative and wildlife-friendly. In addition, this hardy plant tolerates poor dry soils once established, as well as clay, coastal, and windy conditions. However, avoid wet or poorly drained sites. Trim after flowering to encourage bushiness, or shape easily for hedging. At maturity, it grows to approximately 3m high and 2m wide..
- A distinctly upright pyramidal tree, with evenly spaced weeping branches in layers. Slender needle like leaves are blue grey. An excellent specimen tree.
- Ceratopetalum gummiferum, known as the New South Wales Christmas Bush, is a small evergreen tree native to Australia. Its narrow leaves emerge pinkish-bronze before maturing to dark green, creating year-round interest in the garden. In summer, clusters of small white flowers in creamy bracts transform into vivid red-pink, completely covering the tree. This spectacular display occurs around Christmas, making it a highly popular choice. This is where the common name comes from...New South Wales Christmas Bush It thrives in full sun and prefers moist, well-drained soil, yet tolerates drier conditions once established. Growing to approximately 5 × 3 metres, it can be trimmed easily and works beautifully as a large screen or feature plant.
- Corokia virgata ‘Geenty’s Green’ is a compact, bushy shrub native to New Zealand, celebrated for its vibrant green foliage and star-shaped yellow flowers that bloom in early summer. These are followed by small dark red berries that attract native birds, adding seasonal interest and biodiversity to your garden. Ideal for hedging, this versatile plant trims neatly into a tidy shape, ideal for low hedges or borders in larger or smaller gardens. It can be left to grow naturally into a larger screen as well. Once established, it thrives in exposed coastal, windy or dry conditions, making it a resilient choice for challenging sites. Mature plants reach approximately 2 metres high by 1.2 metres wide. Named in honour of New Zealand plantsman and Corokia enthusiast Mike Geenty, this cultivar has the Latin virgata, meaning “twiggy”—a reference to its fine branching structure.
- Corynocarpus laevigatus – Karaka is a dense, evergreen tree native to New Zealand. Its lush, glossy green foliage creates a bold, tropical impression—perfect for adding instant visual appeal to gardens and landscapes. Flowering in late winter to spring, it produces delicate green-cream clusters. By summer, vibrant orange berry-like fruits emerge, attracting native kererū, who help disperse the seeds. Exceptionally hardy, Karaka withstands strong winds, coastal exposure, and drought. However, it dislikes waterlogged soils. Ideal as a privacy screen or shade canopy, this tree grows to approximately 15–20 metres tall and 8 metres wide.
- Cupressus sempervirens 'Totem', commonly known as Totem Cypress, is a tightly upright-growing conifer with striking bluish-green foliage. Notably, these trees are iconic in Italy—especially throughout Tuscany—where they define the landscape and grace Renaissance gardens with timeless elegance. Thanks to their slender, vertical form, Totem Cypresses create bold architectural accents that elevate formal landscapes. Moreover, this cutting-grown cultivar ensures a consistently narrow columnar shape and even growth rate, making it a reliable choice for symmetry and structure. Unlike other varieties, its foliage remains dense and intact, resisting the tendency to “fall out.” Additionally, it offers improved resistance to fungal canker, making it a hardy option for challenging conditions. Often planted in rows as living pillars, it’s ideal for lining entranceways and avenues with a commanding presence. For optimal performance, Totem Cypress prefers drier soil and well-drained sites. Ultimately, it grows to approximately 10 meters tall and 2 meters wide delivering a bold, sculptural impact wherever it’s planted.
- Dacrydium cupressinum – Rimu, is and evergreen conifer native to New Zealand and is one of the most widespread and easily recognised forest trees in both the North and South Islands. With a slow to moderate growth rate, it develops into a commanding presence over time—ideal for both natural landscapes and structured garden settings. In its juvenile form, Rimu presents as a striking, pyramidal specimen with gracefully weeping branches and small, awl-shaped dark green leaves. As the tree matures, it broadens into a more upright form, shedding bark in thick, scaly plates that add rugged texture to its trunk. Thriving in cool, moist conditions, Rimu is well-suited to temperate gardens and native restoration projects. Within 10 years, it typically reaches around 10 metres in height and 4 metres in width. Given time, it can attain a majestic size of up to 25 metres tall and 9 metres wide. Whether planted for its ornamental value or ecological significance, Rimu stands as a bold and enduring symbol of New Zealand’s forest heritage.
- Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’ – Purple Akeake is a tough, upright native New Zealand tree with bold, glossy purple-red foliage that deepens in colour during the cooler months. In summer, it puts on a show with unusual light red to purple papery flower clusters that add a rugged splash of contrast. Over time, Purple Akeake spreads out, making it a good choice for privacy screening or adding colour into compact garden spaces. It handles a wide range of soil types, salt spray, wind, and drought once established—but thrives best in moist, well-drained soil. Trim regularly to maintain a dense, bushy form. The name viscosa refers to the sticky texture of its seeds. Grows to approximately 3.5m high x 2.0m wide.
- Fagus sylvatica – English Beech is a handsome, deciduous tree with a naturally pyramidal shape. Originating from Southern Europe, it produces glossy green foliage in spring. When young, the leaves are covered with fine silken hairs, and they mature to golden yellows in autumn, creating a striking seasonal display. This tree thrives in well-draining loamy soil, especially when lime is present. It prefers a sunny position, where it grows vigorously and develops into an excellent lawn specimen or shade tree. English Beech reaches approximately 10 x 5 metres. However, it can also be trained into a large screen or woven together to form a formal hedge, offering versatility in landscape design. Interestingly, sylvatica is a Latin adjective meaning “of the woods” or “forest-dwelling.”.
- Fraxinus griffithii, commonly known as Evergreen Ash, is a fast-growing tree with a rounded form. Its dark green pinnate leaflets create lush foliage, while masses of small white fragrant flowers appear in large, loose panicles during spring, almost covering the entire tree. This hardy tree performs best in well-drained soil and becomes drought tolerant once established. However, avoid waterlogged areas to prevent root rot. Although evergreen, Evergreen Ash can become semi-deciduous in colder climates. It grows to around 6 x 4 metres, forming a beautiful shade tree for gardens and landscapes. The tree is easily clipped to maintain shape and height, making it versatile for design. Very hardy, it also thrives in industrial sites, carparks, and coastal areas, offering resilience and reliability in challenging conditions.
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- Description
A distinct pyramidal form in its early years, matures to a large rounded, broad spreading tree. Green leaves in summer are narrow and serrated, and transform to a vibrant, deep red colour in autumn, earning it the name "Claret Ash" Hardy to a wide range of conditions. Excellent landscaping, street, specimen or shade tree. Height x Width 15 x 8 Height Range Tall 10+ Growth Rate Fast Plant Type Tree Shape / Habit Round Country of Origin Australia Similar to Consider Prunus Thundercloud, Fagus Riversii, Fagus Sylv Purp, Acer Tamuke Yama, Acer Bloodgood. - Leaf
Leaf Colour Green Deciduous Leaf Colour Red - Flower
Flower Nil - Uses
Specimen Yes Good Shade Tree? Yes Accent Yes Note: Growth, height and grade information are given in good faith but are subject to natural variables beyond our control. - Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Skyline’, or Honey Locust, is an upright spreading tree with a compact branching structure. Its dense, finely divided foliage is deep green through summer, turning a striking golden yellow in autumn. This hardy tree tolerates a wide range of soils, including sandy, loamy, and heavy clay. It grows best in well-drained soil but adapts to very dry periods. With full sun, it thrives in wind, coastal, and heat-exposed sites. Reaching approximately 6 x 4 metres, Honey Locust makes an excellent specimen, shade, or livestock shade tree. (ASPCA Ok - recommend own peace of mind research) Its resilience and adaptability ensure reliable performance across diverse conditions.
- Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’ – Honey Locust is a deciduous tree with a neatly rounded crown and graceful weeping branches. Its lacy, double-pinnate foliage emerges lime-yellow in spring, deepens to fresh green in summer, and finally glows bright yellow in autumn, offering year-round interest. Successive flushes of new growth appear through summer, creating a striking contrast against older leaves. Native to North America, ‘Sunburst’ has become a popular choice for both residential and landscape plantings. This tree tolerates a wide range of soils, including clay, yet it thrives best in moist, well-drained conditions. For optimal growth, plant in full sun. Mature specimens typically reach around 6 metres high and 5 metres wide, making them excellent lawn, shade, or specimen trees.
- Gleditsia tricanthos ‘Inermis’, commonly known as Thornless Honey Locust, is a smart, spreading deciduous tree that makes an excellent shade choice. Its graceful form adds structure and beauty to any landscape. During summer, the tree is adorned with bright-green, fine-textured leaves. As autumn arrives, these leaves transition to a warm yellow, creating seasonal interest and vibrant contrast. Originating from the United States, ‘Inermis’ thrives in diverse soil conditions. It tolerates compacted, clay, poor-quality, and even drought-prone soils, making it highly adaptable. Furthermore, this tree withstands heat, salt, and harsh urban environments. As an added benefit, it also fixes nitrogen, improving soil health and resilience. Use Thornless Honey Locust as a specimen in a lawn, a recreational shade tree, or a reliable street tree. It grows to approximately 10m tall and 8m wide, yet it can be pruned to suit shape and height. Closely resembling Gleditsia ‘Shademaster’, this thornless variety offers versatility, durability, and elegance for modern landscapes.
- Jacaranda mimosafolia - Jacaranda is a bold, fast-growing tree with a rugged, irregular crown and dynamic branches reaching outward, the Jacaranda instantly commands attention in any landscape. Although it is deciduous in all but the warmest climates, it still offers year-round visual interest thanks to its fine, feathery green foliage. As early summer arrives, its canopy transforms into a striking display, when soft purple blooms blanket the tree in breath taking colour. Not only does it provide beauty, but it also makes an excellent dappled shade tree. Native to south-central South America, this sub-tropical species thrives in sunny locations with moist, well-drained soil but will tolerate dryer once established. Typically, it grows to around 7 meters tall and 5 meters wide, making it a standout feature in gardens or larger landscapes.
- Koelreuteria paniculata, known as the Golden Rain Tree, is a medium‑sized deciduous tree with a broad, spreading canopy. Its long pinnate leaves emerge pinkish in spring, mature to green in summer, and turn a brilliant yellow in autumn. In early summer, elongated panicles of golden‑yellow flowers appear, creating a magnificent display. With origins in China, Korea, and Japan, this tree is hardy once established, tolerating heat, drought, and urban conditions with ease. Highly adaptable, the Golden Rain Tree grows in clay, loam, or sandy soils. Moreover, it can thrive even in nutritionally poor soils, although it will not tolerate waterlogged ground. Compact yet striking, it grows to approximately 5m tall by 4m wide, making it a standout specimen for smaller gardens or feature plantings.
- Kunzea ericoides, commonly known as Kanuka, is a tall, fast-growing New Zealand native tree with a broad, spreading crown. Because of its vigorous growth, it’s widely recognised and valued in native landscapes. Although its tiny needle-like leaves resemble Manuka, they feel noticeably softer to the touch. During summer, small white flowers blanket the tree, creating an almost snow-like effect that’s highly attractive to bees. Compared to Manuka, Kanuka grows larger and produces smaller seeds. Once established, it withstands windy coastal conditions and thrives in dry soils. Furthermore, it tolerates clay, though overly wet areas should be avoided. Extremely hardy, Kanuka reaches approximately 6 x 4 metres. As a result, it’s used extensively as a cover tree to protect newly planted native revegetation, offering both shelter and ecological support.
- Laurus nobilis – Bay Laurel is a compact evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region. Its dark green, leathery leaves are highly aromatic and widely valued for culinary use. In spring, small yellow flowers appear, followed by clusters of dark berries that add seasonal interest. Bay Laurel can be easily trimmed to shape, making it ideal as a screen or hedge. Moreover, it performs beautifully as a standard or ornamental tree, offering versatility in both formal and informal garden designs. This tree prefers moist, well-drained soil, yet it will tolerate drier conditions once established. In addition, it withstands coastal and windy aspects, making it a resilient choice for challenging sites. Mature specimens typically reach around 5 metres high and 3 metres wide. Interestingly, the name nobilis reflects its impressive quality and noble reputation.
