Top 5 Trees for Canopy & Shade (For Larger Spaces)

April 13, 2025

When designing a landscape with scale, shade, and softness in mind, canopy trees are your best friend. They bring structure to a garden, frame views, and provide relief from the sun — especially in larger spaces like lifestyle blocks, rural properties, public gardens, and big backyards.

Here are 5 of our top-performing trees for creating beautiful, expansive shade in style.

1. Jacaranda mimosifolia

A timeless favourite, Jacaranda mimosifolia is known for its wide canopy and iconic display of violet flowers in late spring. It creates a filtered shade effect, letting dappled light through its soft, ferny foliage.

Mature Height: 10–12m
Mature Width: 6–8m
Form: Broad-spreading and semi-deciduous
Maintenance: Low — minimal pruning required
Best for: Feature tree, lawn shade, street or avenue plantings
Note: Best in frost-free zones

Why we love it: The soft shade, vibrant colour, and elegant form make it one of the most eye-catching and feel-good feature trees you can plant. Shop Jacaranda mimosifolia here.

2. Eucalyptus Rosea (Red Flowering Gum)

Eucalyptus Rosea (Red Flowering Gum)is a hardy Australian native with a naturally domed canopy and brilliant pink-red flowers. Great for full sun, it delivers both shade and vibrant seasonal colour.

Mature Height: 6–10m
Mature Width: 4–6m
Form: Upright with a rounded crown
Maintenance: Low — drought-tolerant once established
Best for: Native gardens, large blocks, low-maintenance landscapes

Why we love it: It's a native statement piece that handles tough conditions and adds vibrant colour when in bloom.

3. Schinus molle (Peppercorn Tree)

Schinus molle (Peppercorn Tree) This graceful evergreen has a wide, weeping canopy and a soft Mediterranean aesthetic. The fine foliage creates a dreamy shaded space, and it's hardy in a range of climates.

Mature Height: 8–10m
Mature Width: 6–8m
Form: Softly weeping, wide-spreading
Maintenance: Very low — thrives on minimal care
Best for: Poolside planting, paddocks, gravel gardens, rural driveways

Why we love it: It brings instant character and softness to large spaces — especially where a looser, romantic form is needed.

4. Quercus palustris (Pin Oak)

Pin Oaks are a large, fast-growing deciduous tree with rich green summer foliage and intense autumn colour. It forms a strong vertical shape with a wide canopy over time.

Mature Height: 15–20m
Mature Width: 10–12m
Form: Upright and pyramidal
Maintenance: Moderate — seasonal leaf drop
Best for: Traditional gardens, rural estates, avenue planting

Why we love it: It makes a serious design statement with bold structure and seasonal colour shifts, ideal for classic or country landscapes.

5. Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Shademaster’

Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Shademaster’ is a elegant, fast-growing shade tree with a soft, open canopy that lets filtered light through. It’s ideal where you want a large tree without overwhelming the space.

Mature Height: 12–15m
Mature Width: 8–10m
Form: Vase-shaped, light and airy
Maintenance: Very low — no thorns, minimal pruning
Best for: Lawns, pool zones, large gardens, entertaining spaces

Why we love it: It’s easygoing, fast to establish, and perfect for creating natural shade without losing brightness.

6. Ulmus parvifolia (Chinese Elm)

Elegant, hardy, and highly adaptable — the Chinese Elm is a favourite for large spaces needing generous shade and structure. Its rounded canopy, mottled bark, and fine, glossy leaves give it ornamental appeal across all seasons. A tough performer that handles urban conditions, wind, and drought once established.