Ashburton's town centre upgrades are fast taking shape, but the new streetscapes aren't just giving Ashburton a new look - they're also adding a special home-grown touch to the CBD.

The new Fraxinus excelsior 'Green Glow' ash trees that have been planted along Cass Street are a species that was developed at the now closed Allenton Nurseries in Ashburton in the 1990s.

The deciduous tree is known for its rich, colourful foliage, producing lush bright leaves that transform into impressive shades of red, orange and purple in autumn. They can grow up to eight metres tall and are perfectly suited to Ashburton's warm, dry summers and frosty, wet winters.

Green Glow trees are often chosen for avenue planting due to their rounded crown of foliage.

The Council's contractors, Tru-Line Civil have planted a number of the trees along Cass Street and will plant more as upgrades continue around the C​BD, with a total of 27 to be planted.