AUTUMN COLOUR

I might not love the clocks going back, but I do love the autumn colours.

And there are some shrubs that will add a real wallop of colour to your garden at this time of year and not just with foliage.

Known as the “beauty berry”, Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii “Profusion” produces large clusters of stunning and unusual purple berries in mid-autumn, overlapping with the golden purple leaf tints and then hanging on after the leaves have fallen. Easier to grow than you might think, too.

Crab apples are amazing this autumn – trees are laden with the colourful little fruits.

Malus “Evereste” is flushed with red-flushed, orange-yellow fruits in autumn that complement the orange-yellow leaves.

It is an excellent tree for smaller gardens, with a pleasant conical shape. The crab apples can also be used to make jelly, liqueur or bite-size toffee apples.

One of my personal favourites, Nerine bowdenii, cheerfully add a lovely splash of colour to beds and borders – or even containers – at this time of year. They are quite architectural too; I adore them.

There is no ignoring the flush of vibrant red that clothes some houses, walls and sheds now.

Parthenocissus henryana, Chinese Virginia creeper, is less vigorous than other varieties and can be useful for a north-facing wall in a small garden.

Its foliage is more delicate as well, with a velvety texture and silvery-white veins; it turns a fiery crimson in autumn.

Do take care with other varieties, as it will take over if you’re not careful!

And of course there are the autumn foliage shrubs and trees too.

Cornus sp put on a spectacular show before their leaves fall to reveal colourful winter stems.

Euonymus europaeus turns a spectacular shade of red before the leaves fall and Euonymus alatus also turns a beautiful crimson in autumn.

Chrysanthemums flower well into autumn and are excellent for cutting too. Sedums will keep on giving colour and interest and last but not least of course, the spectacular Acers will reward you with the most amazing colours prior to letting go of their leaves.