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Glorious Autumn Colour For Your Garden.

October 19, 2018 By Jill Anderson 4 Comments

 

 

Glorious Autumn Colour For Your Garden.- autumn colour cherry tree, Prunus Shirotae

The glorious autumn colour of a cherry tree, I think its Prunus Shirotae.

I hope you’re enjoying the autumn colour, that last fiery farewell in the garden before winter gets a grip.

I’ve made a determined effort after the high winds & dashing rain of this last week, to notice the fabulous colours before they disappear completely.

What to do in your garden in November, Japanese maple tree, www.growingnicely.co.uk

Cotinus coggygria Grace, autumn colour

This is a Cotinus coggygria Grace, it has dark purple leaves from Spring, then they turn this wonderful colour before they drop.

I read somewhere once, that buying a seasonal plant every month results in a garden that always has something interesting to see throughout the year. Though I think that it’s more likely to result in a random collection of plants, unless there’s a plan of the garden to make sure it all works together.

But it’s certainly worth thinking about having plants in your garden that look good in each season.

autumn leaves of Kolruteria against a blue sky

A Kolruteria at R.H.S. Wisley Gardens in Surrey.

I’ve had a fresh look at my garden, & I’m thinking about how to introduce more autumn colour.

So far, there’s a stunning Acer palmatum planted in a pot, that I can see through the window when I sit in my favourite chair. Next door’s Virginia Creeper sends a few rambling stems over the garden wall, right next to the kitchen door. This is perfect as far as I’m concerned, a whole plant would overwhelm this part of our garden. The leaves of Beech tree will soon turn fiery orange & light up the corner at the end of the garden, but thats about it for autumn colour.

Here’s 3 favourite plants for autumn colour:

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides / Hardy Plumbago, 40/40cm:

A hardy little, deciduous plant, it has bright blue flowers in late summer & dark green leaves that turn red in autumn.

I’m buying 5 of these to plant at the edge of a border that I can see from the sitting room.

Berberis atropurpurea ‘Helmond Pillar’ 1.2m tall x 70cm:

Tall & slim, so great for small spaces & has a flash of brilliant red in late autumn.

Acer palmatum / Japenese maple:

Ideal for growing in plant pots, as the pot restricts their growth. Just remember they need planting in ericaceous compost, mixed with John Innes No 3 for some substance.

Small plants with autumn colour are always useful, they’re easy to fit into gardens & balconies. Its worth noting that bigger quantities of small plants are needed to make more of an impact.

Check the eventual size of the plant & if it suits the conditions in your garden before you buy. That way it’ll thrive & won’t need replacing, & keep us on the track to a sustainable garden.

Enjoy the autumn colour while it lasts.

Jill

All photos: Jill Anderson.

Related posts:

late flowersing, Sedum spectabile, ice plantLate summer flowering plants Super easy guide to growing flowers from seed Let’s make bee friendly gardens plants growing in containers, www.growingnicely.co.ukHow to look after your garden in July

Related posts:

late flowersing, Sedum spectabile, ice plantLate summer flowering plants Super easy guide to growing flowers from seed Let’s make bee friendly gardens plants growing in containers, www.growingnicely.co.ukHow to look after your garden in July
Filed Under: Blog, Gardening, Plants Tagged With: Acer palmatum in pots, autumn color, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, small plants for autumn colour

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Comments

  1. Julie says

    October 23, 2018 at 5:41 pm

    Lovely photos and an interesting idea to buy a plant for colour for each month. About the plumbago though, I found it had horrid furry leaves a bit like fibre glass and a like that yellow Californian climber (forgot name) which were like tiny splinters. Have you found that??

    Reply
    • Jill Anderson says

      October 25, 2018 at 7:55 am

      Thanks Julie, autumn colour is always produces great photos. I don’t find the Plumbago leaves a problem, but I know what you mean about the Californian climber – if you’re thinking of Fremontedendron? – it has very itch making leaves!

      Reply
  2. rusty duck says

    October 26, 2018 at 9:28 pm

    It seems to be a really good year for autumn colour. Also it’s slow.. things are taking their time. I still have an acer that is all green (Emerald Lace.. perhaps that’s the clue!) It might all change if we have a frost this weekend.

    Reply
    • Jill Anderson says

      October 27, 2018 at 4:57 pm

      Emerald Lace is a lovely Acer. I agree, I think it will all change with this cold snap. It really feels like winter, especially with the clocks changing this weekend! : )

      Reply

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Hello, I’m Jill Anderson.
This is where you’ll find good, solid information about gardening, growing fruit & vegetables and how to keep it all looking good.
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The healing, calming power of nature in one photo. The healing, calming power of nature in one photo.
These wonderful autumn colours won’t be around for much longer. But that’s ok, because now is what matters, & their fleeting beauty makes them even more precious.
It’s easy to see how being among trees & nature is so beneficial for our health & wellbeing. 
Have a great Sunday.
Savouring all the autumn colour, & doesn’t it lo Savouring all the autumn colour, & doesn’t it look spectacular with this bold front door.
Today has been hard work, after a lovely time last week in Norfolk. The north coast there is spectacular. Realising these last few months, that there are so many beautiful places here. 
Have a nice evening.
Charming glasshouse at Houghton Hall, Norfolk. Vis Charming glasshouse at Houghton Hall, Norfolk. Visiting to see the Anish Kapoor sculptures, which are amazing, but unprepared for the beauty of the grounds & garden. 
Such a treat, worth coming to Norfolk for this alone!
Hope you’re keeping well, & managing to smile some of the time. x
P.S. more of Houghton Hall & Anish Kapoor on my stories
We stopped off on the way home to pick blackberrie We stopped off on the way home to pick blackberries, after coffee & cake, sitting in the churchyard - the cafe was full, & the churchyard is a quiet, peaceful spot..... as you’d expect.
-
One little advantage of lockdown is walking so much more, rather than using the car. Though it shouldn’t have taken something as momentous as this, for me to change bad habits 🙁
Hope you’re weekend is going well.
My hazel arch, a bit lopsided 🙄 using wood from My hazel arch, a bit lopsided 🙄 using wood from a random clump of hazel on the garden. Now looking much better covered in winter squash plants, so you can’t see just how ramshackle it is. I like to think it has a certain home-spun charm .

Great for small space gardening, imagine how much room you need to grow these without vertical supports.

I’ve got 2 Uchiki kuri, lovely nutty flavour.
1 Turks turban, for its flamboyant shape & colours, though it also tastes good.
One unknown, grown by my grandsons in their homeschooled science lesson.
Close-ups of the squash over on my stories.
Stay cool my friends x
I wanted to show you this lovely lily ( Lilium reg I wanted to show you this lovely lily ( Lilium regale) which is flowering right outside our bedroom window. 
It gets sun for about 4 hours only, you can order the bulbs now for planting in September. It’ll reappear every year & waft delicious scent around your garden, or through your windows.
Have a very happy Monday x
It’s British Flower Week, there’s a lot to be It’s British Flower Week, there’s a lot to be said for fabulous seasonal flowers that haven’t travelled thousands of miles ...... & are wonderful for biodiversity
A bit of rain, nice long days (it’s almost mid-s A bit of rain, nice long days (it’s almost mid-summer!) & it’s, mostly, all growing nicely.

Spinach, courgettes & garlic in shot here. 
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday x
Hope is a decision I’ve thought long & hard abou Hope is a decision
I’ve thought long & hard about how to view the tumult in the world we’re living in now. 
The only thing that works for me, is to choose hope.

It’s a tall order, but avoiding mainstream news & speculation helps avoid the anxiety, that’s often waiting in the wings.

One day soon there’ll be grandchildren clambering over this again.
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