closeup on beautiful leaf of a japanese maple tree in a garden - autumnal foliage

By Nancy Penrose

A specimen tree is a standout tree chosen to serve as a dramatic focal point in your landscape design. These trees often feature striking colors, distinct shapes, or unusual textures that draw the eye and create visual impact.

Below are seven spectacular specimen trees that can add drama, elegance, and year-round interest to your garden.

Japanese Maple

Famous for their graceful structure and vibrant foliage, Japanese maples make stunning centerpiece trees. At maturity, most reach about 25 feet tall and wide. With hundreds of cultivars available, these trees offer a wide palette of leaf colors and shapes. In spring and summer, the foliage is often red or green, shifting to brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges in autumn. Placing lights at the base can enhance the beauty of the tree’s delicate branches in the evening.

Korean Dogwood

Also called Cornus kousa, this small deciduous tree—or sometimes large shrub—typically grows between 15 and 30 feet tall. It begins with a vase-like form that becomes rounder over time. In late spring or early summer, it produces striking blooms made up of four white, petal-like bracts surrounding tiny greenish-yellow flowers. Some varieties develop pink hues as they mature, adding another layer of visual interest.

Acer Palmatum ‘Dissectum’

This weeping type of Japanese maple forms a soft, rounded mound and features finely cut, lace-like foliage. Its cascading branches and vivid fall color—from orange to crimson—make it a favorite for specimen planting. Even in winter, its delicate branching pattern adds texture and charm to the landscape.

Crape Myrtle

Known for their extended bloom season and unique bark, crape myrtles are versatile ornamental trees. Depending on the variety, they grow 10 to 25 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide. Their summer flowers come in a spectrum of colors—pink, red, white, and lavender—followed by colorful fall leaves in shades of gold, orange, or red. As the bark naturally peels, it reveals eye-catching layers of gray and brown, which can be beautifully highlighted with evening lighting.

Parrotia

Valued for its vibrant fall colors, Parrotia—also called Persian ironwood—puts on a spectacular display with yellow, orange, and red leaves often showing at once. Though it blooms in spring with small reddish-purple flowers, its real charm lies in its foliage and low-maintenance nature. Parrotia typically reaches about 30 feet in height and spreads 15 to 20 feet wide. It is available in both single and multi-trunk forms.

Stewartia Pseudocamellia

This all-season ornamental tree offers something beautiful at every time of year. It features rich green leaves, delicate white blooms in early summer, brilliant fall colors, and bark that peels to reveal a mottled mix of cream, tan, and gray. Its camellia-like flowers and multicolored autumn foliage—from gold to deep red—bring visual excitement. Stewartia thrives in moist, well-drained soil and does best with some afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch. Its bark becomes a showpiece with the help of well-placed lighting after dusk.

Ginkgo

As one of the oldest known tree species, the ginkgo adds both history and beauty to your yard. It grows slowly but rewards patience with unique, fan-shaped leaves that turn a luminous yellow in fall. This dramatic seasonal change makes it one of the most unforgettable specimen trees for autumn color.

About the Author

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, Washington, just outside Seattle. Big Trees Inc. is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Pacific Northwest, offering over 120,000 trees across 300+ varieties. The company specializes in mature trees for privacy, shade, and ornamental value, and also provides expert transplanting services. Visit their blog at bigtreesupply.com/blog or call 360-563-2700 to learn more.