As the garden begins it’s autumn transition, it’s the perfect time to think about plants that offer both immediate impact and long-term structure. Whether you’re looking for vibrant autumn colour, fragrant blooms to extend the season, architectural features for winter interest, or evergreen screening, we have plenty of options.
Featuring everything from the fiery berries of Pyracantha to the autumnal rainbow of Japanese Maples and long-flowering perennials like Verbena bonariensis take a look at our top picks for October.
Trees
Acer palmatum (Japanese maple) – Few trees offer as much beauty and year-round interest as an Acer. Renowned for their delicate foliage and breathtaking autumn colours, Acers bring elegance, structure and seasonal drama to any garden. From fresh spring growth and graceful summer canopies to fiery displays of red, orange and gold in autumn, they provide a constantly changing focal point that never fails to impress. Perfect for both small and large gardens, Acers add an instant sense of maturity and sophistication. Their attractive form creates year-round interest, while their manageable size makes them easy to incorporate into almost any planting scheme. Whether planted as a statement feature, beside a patio or reflected in a garden pond, an Acer has the ability to transform an ordinary space into something truly special.
Amelanchier lamarckii (Juneberry) – This is at its finest in autumn, when its graceful foliage turns brilliant shades of orange, red, and gold. This elegant small tree provides outstanding seasonal colour, often creating a striking focal point in the garden. Combined with its spring blossom and ornamental berries, its vibrant autumn display makes it a true year-round performer. Mature height: 4–8m.
Betula (Birch) – One of the highlights of an autumn garden. While they’re often admired for their striking white bark, they also bring plenty of seasonal interest as the leaves change colour. Most Birch varieties turn a clear butter-yellow or golden-yellow before falling, creating a bright display that stands out on dull autumn days. Unlike some trees that only shine for a few weeks, Birch trees offer fresh green leaves in spring, dappled shade in summer, golden colour in autumn and elegant bark throughout winter.
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ (American Sweetgum) – A fantastic tree for screening and autumn colour, this species of tree has large lobed leaves, similar to a Maple. The leaves of Liquidambar ‘Worplesdon’ are most distinctive emerging in spring a bright green colour and displaying the most brilliant range of colours from September onwards.
Rhus typhina Tiger Eyes (‘Bailtiger’) (Staghorn Sumac) – A large suckering deciduous shrub to 6m, the red-hairy stems with large pinnate leaves turning red and orange in autumn. Dioecious, with yellow-green flower clusters, followed on female plants by dense crimson fruiting heads
Sorbus commixta Olympic Flame (Rowan) – Also known as ‘Dodong’ this Rowan originates from Japan. Selected from seed by a Swedish botanist in 1976 for its exotic look, it is now firm a favourite in Europe. Its glossy green foliage is vibrant throughout the growing season and turns to an impressive range of flame oranges and reds in autumn. Dark orange berries are produced from clusters of white spring flowers by late summer.
Shrubs
Ceratostigma willmottianum ‘Forest Blue’ (Chinese Plumbago) – Ceratostigma ‘Forest Blue’ is a compact, deciduous perennial prized for its vivid late-season colour and long-lasting garden interest. From late summer into autumn, clusters of intense gentian-blue flowers appear above fresh green foliage, creating a striking contrast in borders and containers. As temperatures cool, the leaves transform into rich shades of red and bronze, adding exceptional autumn appeal. Ideal for sunny or lightly shaded positions, it thrives in well-drained soil and is tolerant of drier conditions once established. Ceratostigma ‘Forest Blue’ is perfect for providing reliable colour when many other plants begin to fade.
Cornus kousa (Flowering Dogwood) – The perfect feature tree for any garden. Varieties such as ‘Milky Way’ produce large, star shaped flowers in late spring to early summer followed by dazzling, rich autumnal colours until around mid November.
Cotinus coggygria Flamissimo (Smoke bush) – A compact, deciduous shrub with purple / green leaves in summer and vibrant fiery foliage in autumn. It produces pink flower plumes in the summer that turn a smokey grey, hence the name. Suitable for full sun to partial shade, in well drained soil. Can grow to a mature height of approximately 1.5 – 2.5m.
Euonymus europaeus ‘Red Cascade’ (Spindle Tree) – A deciduous shrub with oval mid-green leaves. Rosy red-pink fruits in autumn open to reveal orange seeds. Also has fantastic red foliage in autumn. Prefers well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Height 4m. Spread 3m.
Climbers
Parthenocissus quinquefolia var. engelmannii (Virginia Creeper) – A vigorous, deciduous climber prized for its outstanding autumn colour and reliable growth. Fresh green, five-lobed leaves emerge in spring, forming dense cover through summer before turning brilliant shades of crimson and scarlet in autumn. Ideal for covering walls, fences and pergolas, it is self-clinging and requires minimal support. Thriving in full sun or partial shade, and moist but well drained soil, it typically reaches 8-12 metres in height with a spread of around 4–8 metres, providing dramatic seasonal interest and effective coverage.
Pyracantha Saphyr Rouge (‘Cadange’) (Firethorn) – More commonly known as Firethorn, Pyracantha ‘Saphyr Orange’ is a spiny evergreen shrub with a compact habit, narrow glossy leaves and sprays of white flowers in late spring and early summer. Bright orange berries follow, providing valuable food for the birds throughout autumn into early winter making it an ideal plant for wildlife gardens.
Pyracantha ‘Golden Glow’ (Firethorn) – Great for screening, its thorns act as a natural security barrier where defence is needed. Does well in a sheltered sunny or partial sun aspect.
Flowerheads to leave on over winter
- Agastache
- Echinops
- Eryngiums
- Hydrangeas
- Nigella
- Phlomis
- Poppies
- Teasels
- Verbena bonariensis
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