The peak of autumn and just as the deciduous beech leaves are changing might seem an odd time to be bringing up spring growth on the myrtle beech trees but I thought it would be interesting to share a few photos from last spring.

Spring growth on the myrtle beech trees last spring. Stunning colours, just like the deciduous beech trees do in autumn.

The myrtle beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii) is a direct relative of the deciduous beech (Nothofagus gunnii) and while the myrtle isn’t deciduous, it’s new growth in spring also puts on a lesser celebrated but (in my opinion) equally stunning display of orange and red.

Orange coloured new growth in the myrtle rainforests in spring

The leaves eventually shift to their normal dark green colour but visiting Tasmania’s great rainforest areas in spring is certainly not without its splashes of colour!

Brilliant red coloured new growth on the myrtle beech tree

Multi coloured new leaves of the myrtle

The shots above were taken on the Twisted Sister track in the south west, but myrtle rainforest is relatively common around Tasmania (eg Cradle Mountain, Tarkine, North East highlands) so there are plenty of spots you can look forward to enjoying this phenomenon later in the year.

This one in the Styx Valley was cleverly disguised as a Christmas tree