AUTUMN TONES

OSTEOSPERMUM MARGARITA ‘ORANGE FLARE’

this wee daisy just shines in the autumn sunshine. From the Margarita series by Enrich with Nature, the sunset shades of this hybrid are particularly attractive at this time of year. the Margarita series plants like a spot in full sun; with good drainage away from hard frosts, these osteospermums thrive in pots and tubs. Forms a tight compact plant. No pruning is required. Evergreen.

LEUCADENDRON TIPS

treat them with neglect. other than water to get them started, they prefer less fertile soils and absolutely loathe wet feet. prune back after flowering in spring to maintain shape and keep them bushy.

LEUCADENDRON ‘SAFARI SUNSHINE’

For foliage lovers, it’s hard to go past leucadendrons and proteas for autumn and winter colour. ‘Safari Sunshine’ goes under a couple of names (also sold as ‘Jester’) and is a variegated sport of ‘Safari Sunset’. the pretty lemon and pink foliage create a lovely platform for the pink-toned flowers. Grows to 1.5–2m.

LEUCADENDRON ‘CLONE 91’

this is one for smaller gardens or the front of a garden border – it is a compact variety that produces flower stems that start off bronze in autumn and then soften to lovely shades of lemon in winter. perfect for a spot of gentle seasonal colour.

BRACHYGLOTTIS ‘LEITH GOLD’

Flash foliage adds as much colour and interest to the garden as flowers do. And while this New Zealand native hybrid doesn’t flower until spring, its shimmering, dinner-plate-sized, silvery-white leaves look a picture all year round. thrives in dry and barren spots once established. In spring, clusters of bold yellow daisy-like flowers appear. prefers shelter from the midday sun, so it’s an ideal plant for a semi-shaded area. Eventual height 2m tall.