As the vibrant energy of summer begins to wane, the garden enters a period of quiet, elegant transition. There’s a gentle beauty in the later months of the year, a calm that settles over the beds and borders as plants display their final flourish. The ground, still warm from the sun, is the perfect stage for a new cast of characters. From the enduring blooms of late-flowering perennials to the graceful sweep of ornamental grasses, this is a time for appreciating the natural, earthy hues and textures that make the autumn garden so special.
As days begin to shorten, we start to think of berries and autumn foliage colour – but this is also the season when an unexpectedly wide range of autumn-flowering hardy perennials start to come into their own.
Herbaceous Perennials
Anemone Ruffled Swan (‘Macane007’) – A stunning perennial that produces elegant semi-double white flowers with a pale blue reverse and a vibrant yellow centre from summer to autumn. The blooms are held above tall, branched stems, creating a graceful and airy display in the garden. This variety forms a compact mound of dark green, lobed leaves. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil.
Erigeron karvinskianus – a charming and resilient perennial plant renowned for its delicate beauty. Originating from Mexico, this herbaceous species has spread its appeal globally. Characterized by small, daisy-like flowers with white or pale pink petals and golden-yellow centers, Erigeron karvinskianus forms cascading mounds of blooms, creating a picturesque carpet effect. Its enduring bloom period, extending from spring to autumn.
Erysimum ‘Bowles’ Mauve’ – A long-flowering, evergreen perennial admired for its vibrant colour and exceptional garden performance. Producing masses of rich mauve-purple flowers over an extended season, often from spring through to autumn, it brings reliable colour and interest to borders and containers. Its slender grey-green foliage provides an attractive contrast to the vivid blooms, while its compact, bushy habit makes it easy to incorporate into mixed displays. Height and Spread 1m.
Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ – A clump-forming perennial with softly hairy green leaves and clusters of peachy-orange flowers.’Totally Tangerine’ is particularly noted for its long flowering season from late spring to autumn. Height 1m Spread 50cm. Full sun.
Salvia x jamensis ‘Hot Lips’ – A vibrant perennial celebrated for its striking two-tone flowers. The blooms feature bold, red petals with white tips, creating a “hot lips” appearance that stands out in any garden. Flowering from summer to autumn, this salvia attracts pollinators. It has aromatic, lance-shaped green leaves that provide a lovely contrast to the colourful flowers. ‘Hot Lips’ thrives in full sun and moist but well-drained soil, making it perfect for borders, containers, or wildlife gardens.
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ – A hardy perennial known for its upright spires of rich violet-purple flowers held on distinctive dark, almost black stems. Flowering from summer through to autumn, it brings strong vertical interest and bold contrast to borders. The aromatic, grey-green foliage forms neat clumps, making it ideal for structured and contemporary planting schemes. Highly attractive to bees and other pollinators, ‘Caradonna’ thrives in full sun or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. Easy to maintain, it can be cut back after flowering to encourage repeat blooms. Height and Spread 50cm.
Shrubs
Choisya × dewitteana White Dazzler (Mexican Orange Blossom) – Commonly known as Mexican Blossom this highly fragrant evergreen shrub is a useful addition to any garden. Mound forming this neat shrub is exceptionally free flowering in spring and often late summer into autumn. Height and spread 0.5-1 metre Grow in a sunny sheltered aspect on well drained soil.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ – A popular, hardy shrub known for its large, cone-shaped flower heads and reliable summer display. From mid to late summer, lime-green blooms emerge, gradually softening to creamy white and often blushing pink as autumn approaches. Strong, upright stems hold the flowers well, making them ideal for cutting and drying. Deep green foliage provides a fresh backdrop throughout the growing season. Growing to 2.5m high, ‘Limelight’ prefers moist but well-drained soil in partial shade. Its long-lasting flowers, robust habit, and easy care make it a standout choice for the borders.
Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’ – Known as the Snowball Bush, it is a deciduous shrub admired for its dramatic, globe-shaped flower clusters. Featuring an upright, rounded form with lobed green leaves that turn rich shades of red and purple in the autumn. In late spring or early summer, it produces masses of large, greenish-white flowers that mature to pure white, resembling snowballs. Though the flowers are sterile and do not produce berries, their showy display adds charm to any garden. Perfect as a focal point in the borders or as a statement plant. Height and Spread 4m. Grow in moist but well drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
Trees
Fagus sylvatica (Beech) – Fagus sylvatica is one of our most majestic native trees. The Common Beech (also known as the European beech) can become very large and it has a low branched habit. Beech trees will thrive in most conditions but do not like exposed or coastal sites. We do not recommend under-planting as Fagus sylvatica is a shallow rooted tree. Broad elliptic yellow to green leaves in spring turn a rich russet brown in autumn. A good tree for most reasonably fertile, well drained soils, except heavy clay or light sand, Fagus sylvatica tends to favour more temperate climates but extra care is needed for plant establishment when planting in extreme heat and drought. Best to avoid planting in paved or tarmac areas where the tree can suffer from reflected heat and light. A versatile tree for woodland, parkland and in broad verge plantings, with rich, copper autumn foliage. Medium sized specimens are supplied with the lower branches still on the trunk and can therefore be used for instant hedging purposes. Holding its leaves through winter until the new spring growth emerges makes this an ideal plant for screening. Mature height: 17-22m.
Japanese Maples (Acers) – The perfect choice of tree for any small, compact or courtyard garden. Their character and appeal makes them ideal for creating a focal point, brightening a shaded corner, or elegantly overhanging a pool or water feature. We have a huge range here at the nursery from small 10L up to 3m high specimens with the largest selection being available in Spring.
Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum) – A stunning deciduous tree celebrated for its vibrant autumn foliage, distinctive maple-like leaves, and attractive spiky fruits. One of its striking features is the kaleidoscope of colours in the autumn including shades of yellow, orange, red and purple that add to the vibrancy of the garden. Spiky spherical fruits appear in late autumn through the winter. Height 12-17m Grow in moist but well drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
Sorbus ulleungensis ‘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. Its young trunk is punctuated by lenticels and it thrives on most free draining soils. It does not tolerate excessive reflective heat and light from hard areas surrounding it. This tree is good for bees and other wildlife. Mature height: 5-8m
Ornamental Grasses
Deciduous grasses are the way to go in terms of colour progression with their autumnal toasted golden – brown hues. There are several that lose their verdant colour in the autumn but keep their foliage and therefore perfect for providing good coverage and winter interest. Stipa gigantea (Golden Oats) and Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ are good examples.
When planning your autumn garden, foliage is the real star but don’t forget to incorporate berries as well for an additional splash of colour. Not only do they look great, they also provide food for wildlife. Autumnal tones of natural ochres, vibrant maroons and vivid reds from shrubs and trees can been combined with late flowering perennials for an added accent.
Ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis add height, movement and atmosphere providing the perfect backdrop to flowering perennials for a stunning finale to the late summer border. Effective planting partners include long flowering perennials such as Verbena bonariensis.
Fruit
September through to early May is the perfect time to plant fruit trees.
Ficus carica (Fig) – This deciduous tree or shrub is renowned for their delicious and unique fruits coming in a range of shapes, colours, and flavours. This fig has pear shaped fruit that ripens to shades of green and purple. Large, lobed green leaves and grey bark provide ornamental appeal as a feature plant in the garden. Grow in well drained or moist but well drained soil in a sheltered position. Full sun.
Pyrus communis (Pear) – Recognised for its flavourful fruit in various shapes, sizes and colours ranging from green to yellow to red. This deciduous tree produces white blossoms mid spring followed by smooth, sweet, and juicy fruits in the autumn. Height 12m Spread 8m. Some varieties are not self-fertile and will require a different variety as a pollinating partner. Prefers moist but well drained soil in a sheltered position.
Climbers
Jasminum officinale (Common Jasmine) – A deciduous climber with very fragrant, white flowers in summer and early autumn. They are admired for their perfume, vigorous growth and graceful appearance.
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.Full sun.
Planting Tips
• When planning your borders always choose a selection of plants that flower at different times through the year so there’s always something colourful to enjoy.
• Plant taller growing autumn flowering varieties behind low growing summer ones so they’ll grow up above them once summer displays fade away.
• A small group of, say, three plants of one variety often looks more impressive than choosing three different things.
• Repetition works well in garden design. If you have a favourite plant then include several groups of it to help link different areas of the garden together.
Acers (Japanese Maples) are renowned for their seasonal shades and come in many shapes and sizes. We have a vast selection of Acers available that would compliment any garden. Changing colour week by week, some of our favourites are: Sango Kaku, Fireglow, and Osakazuki.
Top gardening jobs for September
• Divide summer-flowering herbaceous perennials like hardy Geraniums, Salvias and Hostas
• Keep on deadheading summer bedding and it’ll carry on flowering until the first frosts.
• Water Camellias and Rhododendrons regularly – next year’s flower buds are developing now.
• Net ponds before the leaves start to fall.
• Get started on autumn lawn care – scarify, aerate, top-dress and feed your lawn, and cut it on a higher blade setting as growth slows down for the winter.
• Raise pots on pot feet to stop them getting waterlogged and frozen over winter.
• Clean out greenhouses and remove shading to make the most of lower light levels.
Planting spring bulbs is the perfect antidote to the pre-winter blues, with the promise of dazzling displays in a few months’ time. Daffodils, Hyacinths, Crocus and Snowdrops can all be planted in September. As the days start getting shorter and the leaves blaze red and gold, enjoy the last of the good weather as you wind down the garden for winter.
Flower-heads to leave on over winter
Feeling inspired?
If you would like to start the first step of your journey with us then get in touch to book our consultancy service.
For just £75*, our experienced horticulturalists will provide tailored guidance to bring your vision to life. Whether you’re interested in fast-growing solutions for quick impact, seeking the enduring beauty of evergreen plants or looking to add colour and fragrance, we can offer expert advice.
**£75 fee applies if you live within a 15-mile radius of our office. Additional fees apply outside this area. All costs include VAT.