Platanus Orientalis Insularis 'Autumn Glory'

Autumn Glory Oriental Plane / Autumn Glory Plane Tree

Botanical Name: Platanus orientalis insularis 'Autumn Glory'
Family: Platanaceae
Origin: SE Europe to W Asia (Balkans, Turkey, Caucasus)
Plant Type: Deciduous tree

Overview

A grand, heat-tolerant plane tree ideal for Adelaide and South Australian streets and larger gardens. ‘Autumn Glory’ throws dense, cooling summer shade, then fires up with gold–orange–scarlet autumn colour as nights cool. Its mottled, peeling bark adds striking winter interest, giving you four-season appeal with tough urban performance.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 12–18 m H × 8–12 m W (fastigiate/columnar selections can be narrower to ~5–6 m W)
• Growth Rate: 40-80 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Large, lobed mid-green leaves; yellow–orange to red-purple in autumn
• Flowers: Inconspicuous in spring; forms ornamental spherical seed clusters that persist into winter
  
• Seasonal Interest: Deep summer shade → vivid autumn foliage → handsome, mottled exfoliating bark in winter—true year-round presence
• Wildlife Value: Provides habitat and perching; seed clusters may interest some birds
• Tolerance: Drought-Tolerant (once established), Heat-Tolerant, Wind-Tolerant, Frost hardy, Clay-Tolerant (if well-drained/improved), Coastal-Tolerant (light salt), urban-pollution tolerant
• Planting Density: Avenue/specimen: 1 tree per 36–100 m² (6–10 m apart) depending on canopy goals
• Pet Friendly: Generally regarded as non-toxic to pets

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun (essential for best canopy and colour)
• Soil: Adapts to well-drained loam, sandy loam or improved clay; avoid waterlogging
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer (more in heatwaves); monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Formative prune in late winter to build a strong framework; remove crossing/weak wood; mulch in spring; balanced feed in early spring if needed
• Lifespan: 50-100+ years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA, including urban and coastal Adelaide
• Soil pH: Acid, Neutral, Alkaline (best with good drainage)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Statement shade tree for lawns, schoolyards and larger courtyards
• Avenue/driveway planting for a classic, symmetrical streetscape
• Urban heat-island relief—pairs well with water-wise underplanting (lomandra, rosemary, westringia)

Why You Will Love It

‘Autumn Glory’ gives you serious summer shade, spectacular autumn colour and beautiful winter bark—a true four-season feature for South Australian sites. It’s tough, fast enough to establish, and thrives in heat, wind and city conditions, adding long-term value and presence to any larger landscape.