The Best Trees & Plants to Uplight in North Georgia Landscapes
North Georgia landscapes are blessed with beautiful, distinctive trees — and uplighting is the single most dramatic way to show them off after dark. But not every tree lights the same way. The species, its shape, and its bark and foliage all change how you should aim and place your fixtures. Here are the best trees and plants to uplight in North Georgia yards, and how we approach each one.
Southern magnolia
The Southern magnolia is a North Georgia icon, and it's a showstopper under light. Its dense, glossy evergreen foliage and broad canopy catch warm uplighting beautifully, giving you a rich, layered glow year-round. We typically place two or three well-aimed fixtures around the trunk to wash the canopy from multiple angles — one light alone leaves too much of that big canopy in shadow.
Crape myrtle
Crape myrtles are everywhere in Georgia, and their sculptural, multi-trunk form and smooth mottled bark make them one of the very best trees to uplight. A single fixture at the base reveals the twisting trunks and branch structure, and in summer the light catches the blooms for an extra pop. Because they're often planted in clusters, staggering fixtures across a group creates wonderful depth.
Japanese maple
Japanese maples are prized for their delicate, layered branches and colorful foliage, and they're perfect candidates for both uplighting and moonlighting. Uplighting from below makes the canopy glow like a lantern, especially with red and burgundy varieties, while a downlight mounted above casts intricate leaf shadows on the ground. These are specimen trees, so they deserve their own dedicated light.
River birch
River birch thrives in North Georgia's climate, and its peeling, cinnamon-colored bark and multi-stem trunks are made for grazing light. Placing a fixture close to the base and aiming it up the trunk exaggerates that beautiful bark texture, turning an everyday tree into a nighttime focal point.
Evergreens: Leyland cypress, hollies & arborvitae
Tall evergreens like Leyland cypress, arborvitae, and hollies are common privacy and screening plants in North Georgia, and they provide a great year-round backdrop. Uplighting them adds height and a sense of enclosure to the landscape, and because they hold their foliage through winter, they keep your yard looking full and lit even when deciduous trees are bare.
A note on our red clay and roots
One local reality: North Georgia's hard red clay and shallow tree roots make fixture placement and wire runs trickier than they look. Proper installation means working around root flare, choosing the right stake or mount, and planning wire paths that won't disturb the tree or get cut later. It's one more reason tree lighting benefits from a professional touch.
Want to see your magnolias, crapes, or maples transformed after dark? Schedule a free consultation and we'll walk your property, identify the best trees to feature, and design a tree-lighting plan built around them.
