Autumn plants

TO SAVOUR

1 Aster

Symphyotrichum ‘Little Carlow’ is a stunner with masses of mid-blue flowers that shine out – well deserving of its RHS Award of Garden Merit.

2 Hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Sundae Fraise’ – the creamy white flower panicles turn to rich pink as they fade on this handsome, compact variety.

3 Sunflower

Helianthus annuus ‘Valentine’ – easy to grow from seed, this lemon-yellow variety produces 15cm-diameter blooms on strong stems. 4 Golden oats

Stipa gigantea – backlit in a sunny spot, the graceful arching stems of this grass look magnificent waving in the breeze.

5 Buckler fern

Dryopteris erythrosora – although it will begin to

die back in autumn, this striking fern is a musthave for its beautiful triangular-shaped fronds.

6 Japanese maple

Acer palmatum dissectum – before they drop, the deeply cut leaves of this fine specimen turn fiery shades of yellow, orange and red.

7 Dahlia

If you keep on picking them, a single dahlia tuber will go on producing flowers for you well into the autumn, until the first frosts. 8 Katsura tree

Cercidiphyllum japonicum – as the leaves of this tree fall, they fill the air with the delicious scent of sweet caramel or candyfloss.

9 Mexican giant hyssop

Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ sends up lilac-blue bottlebrush flowers that fade to provide architectural interest right through winter, too.

10 Chinese silver grass

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Nepalensis’ – strikingly statuesque, this produces silky flower heads and turns reddish-brown in autumn.

11 Rugosa rose

Rosa ‘Fru Dagmar Hastrup’ – disease-resistant and hardy, this compact shrub rose bears single mid-pink flowers but its showy red hips are its finest feature.

12 Physocarpus opulifolius

‘Lady In Red’ – red autumn berries follow the pink-white summer flowers and serrated dark red leaves of this good-looking shrub.