A final burst of colour...
AS EVENINGS DRAW IN, IT’S STILL POSSIBLE TO BRIGHTEN UP OUR FADING GARDENS
THERE’S an autumnal crispness in the air and deciduous trees and shrub foliage are just starting to change colour.
Days are beginning to noticeably shorten and nature responds by getting ready for a winter dormancy.
However, there are some late floral performers who brighten our gardens with a last hurrah of colour.
Hesperantha coccinea ‘Major’ provides a nice dash of rich red in autumn. It looks great planted amongst the blonde fluffiness of Stipa tenuissima, the ponytail grass. This late summer flowering perennial which was formerly known as Schizostylis will keep going until first frosts. For best results grow in moist but well drained soil in full sunshine and pop a fleece over it during the depths of winter.
The countryside lanes are full of cow parsley during early summer but Selinum wallichianum (milk parsley) leaves it until late summer/early autumn to come into full bloom.
Lots of white flowers atop lacy decorative green foliage on sturdy stems make an impressive statement in the borders now. Like other umbellifers such as carrots, it doesn’t like to be divided or disturbed as it has a tap root. Good for providing late summer nectar for the bees and butterflies.
Nerine bowdenii lights up the garden in October with its candy pink flowers. Originating from South Africa, it needs a sunny position in the garden, and winter protection in colder areas. Shallow plant in late spring in free-draining soil – the top of the bulb should just peep out. They seem to do best in their own company – grow in clumps together.
There’s also Alba, a delicious pure white variety and N. sarniensis which is a warm orange-red. You could also buy them in flower now and make a very cheerful potted display to enjoy in your garden, or at the front door for the next month or so.
Persicaria ‘Blackfield’ is a clump-forming perennial with spikes of deep burgundy red flowers that emerge from even darker buds. It starts flowering in summer and will keep going well into autumn. The key to success with this plant is to site it in moist or even badly drained soil in full sunshine. Wear gloves when handling it as all parts can be an irritant.
Actaea simplex (Baneberry) is another herbaceous perennial to add to your late flowering borders. You may be more familiar with this plant’s former name – Cimicifuga.
Elegant wands of cream flowers tinged with pink rise above chocolately purple foliage and you – as well as bees and butterflies – will be attracted to its sweet scent. It doesn’t like to dry out so moist, semi-shade is ideal but it will grow in full sun if watered well. Excellent for providing vertical interest to your planting schemes.
Heptacodium micinoides is an unusual shrub and was used in several of the gardens at this year’s late September Chelsea Flower Show. Also known as the Seven Son Tree, it has clusters of fragrant small white flowers now and is best grown as a multi-stemmed shrub in sun or dappled shade. A relation of honeysuckle, its perfume attracts many butterflies.