Blazing Berries

Colour comes in many different forms at this time of year. The exquisite pink and turquoise berries of

Clerodendrum trichotomum

(harlequin glorybower, right), look like tiny clowns’ caps, while the bright violet beads of the aptly named beauty berry (callicarpa) make a great match for pastel-coloured asters. To complement red and orange autumn foliage, include

Euonymus europaeus

(spindle tree) in your garden, with its orange-pink fruits, or the hot shades of holly and pyracantha (firethorn) berries.

“Make a great soil conditioner by running the mower over autumn leaves on the lawn. Pop the shredded foliage in a bin bag, puncture a few holes in it, and leave for a year to decompose.” SIMON AKEROYD, gardening expert and author of RHS Gardening School, simonakeroyd.co.uk.