Savour autumn’s flowers
Lingering annuals, tender perennials and autumn bulbs gladden the heart in November
Dahlias often linger and look better than ever in autumn. But as the days get cooler, the stems tend to weaken so shorter, single-flowered ones are best now. The dark-leaved Happy Single Series looks excellent in containers or a border edge because they only reach a couple of feet tall. ‘HS Wink’ has bright pink flowers with a raspberry-red eye; ‘HS Flame’ has red and yellow flowers; ‘HS Kiss’ is a peachy pink and ‘HS Single Party’ is a vivid yellow. Autumn-flowering bulbs also linger into November. South African Nerine bowdenii, loves a sunny position against a warm wall. These begin in September and they like a sunny, warm position. There are shocking pinks such as ‘Isabel’, and blush pinks such as ‘Stephanie’. Autumn-flowering cyclamen might still be going with the added bonus of marbled foliage. Colchicums make great edgers for autumn-flowering borders, popping their flowers above ground for many weeks without any trace of leaf. The earliest is often Colchicum autumnale ‘Nancy Lindsay’. Small, purplepink flowers emerge and stay erect; the early spring foliage is much neater than most so it’s easier to place. It can produce up to 20 flowers per bulb and may well still be going by November. In the herbaceous border, single white daisy Leucanthemella serotina adds a fresh touch in November and makes an excellent cut flower, although it does spread. Late Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’ still Verbena has a touch of blue at the top and can be bonariensis grown with the latest flowering poker ‘Lollipop’
Kniphofia rooperi, creating a rich blue and pumpkin-orange clash. Purple Verbena rigida and V. officinalis grandiflora ‘Bampton’ are among the last flowers standing and highly appreciated by late pollinators. Try mingling a new shorter version of V. bonariensis called ‘Lollipop’, among perennial Gaura lindheimeri, which is easily raised from seed. Its soft pink buds and blush-white petals are often the last thing to throw in the towel.
Finally you’re bound to find a rose or two. Compact candy-pink ‘Bonica’ always produces a late show. The blush-white ‘Madame Alfred Carrière’ never knows when to stop either, and this almost thornless rose is perfect looped round a pergola. Leave your last roses to fade and they’ll often produce orange hips to cheer you up once winter proper arrives. ✿
Purple verbenas are among the last flowers standing and appreciated by pollinators
Rose ‘Bonica’