How to grace a garden with seasonal colour
No matter the vagaries of the Great British weather, one thing which can always be relied upon is the eventual arrival of each season. Autumn, being the transition from summer to winter, gives us the opportunity to adjust to a slower pace in preparation for winter’s slumber after the intensity of summer. As the nights draw in and temperatures fall, we can look forward to the season’s colours in the trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials around us. The intensity of colour will depend on a number of factors, with cold nights and warm, sunny days encouraging the best autumn colour.
As Beth Chatto said: ‘The long season is coming to an end, with almost the entire cast stepping forward for the last grand act. Background trees and shrubs take it in turn to present their contribution before they retreat into winter rest. The many shades of green that furnish the garden change slowly over a long period so the feast of autumn foliage is long and lingering’.
Just some of our favourites for autumn colour include:
Elsholtzia stauntonii
Forms a tall upward branching plant bearing mint-like scented leaves topped with dense spikes of tiny mauve flowers, followed by attractive red autumn foliage. A good vertical addition late in the year, among asters or Japanese anemones.
Height and spread: 1.2m (47in)
Conditions: Full sun, rich and fertile soil
Possibly a hybrid of A. hubrechtii and A. Ciliata, this plant has large clear lilac-blue flowers held up high. Foliage turns a brilliant yellow for a good period in autumn.
Height and spread: 90cmx45cm (35×17.7in)
Conditions: Full sun, rich and fertile soil
Gillenia trifoliata (Bowman’s root)
A graceful plant for semi-shade or full sun in retentive soil. Slender russet-coloured stems, set with small trifoliate leaves, carry sprays of narrow-petalled, white flowers which float like moths at dusk in June. When the flowers have gone, reddish-brown calyces remain quietly attractive for weeks.
Height and spread: 1mx60cm (39x24in)
Conditions: Sun/part shade, rich and fertile soil
This is a very strong-growing deciduous climber with lobed leaves turning various shades of red, orange and purple through autumn. Flowers are insignificant, but grown up a large tree, or over a long boundary, it can make quite a statement.
Height and spread: 12mx4m (39x13ft)
Conditions: Sun/part shade, rich and fertile soil
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Purple Fall’ (maiden grass)
Good autumn colour with the leaves turning a rich mix of burgundy and orange shades. Creamy pink flowers in late summer lasting well into autumn. A vigorous, yet compact and colourful specimen.
Height and spread: 1.5mx1m (5×3.2ft)
Conditions: Full sun, most soil types
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