As the season of brightly flowering perennials comes to a close, the magnificent colours of autumn begin to emerge. This is the season where many trees and shrubs come to the fore, lifting our eyes to the canopies and diverting our attention from the fading foliage below.
The diverse shapes and sizes of leaves, along with their evolving colours, creates a dynamic and ever-changing landscape. Embrace the warm, earthy tones that mark the shift from green to gold, red and orange, as deciduous trees flamboyantly shed their leaves. It is not just changing foliage that provide interest in Autumn, berries, hips and other fruits also add to the colourful displays. These are essential wildlife plants for feeding birds through the autumn and into winter.
Even if you have a small garden it is possible to fit in one tree. If you choose wisely you can have spring blossom, fantastic autumn colour and maybe even berries. Malus (crab apples) and a UK native Viburnum opulus both fit all those characteristics.
Our Top Plants for Autumn Colour
Trees & Shrubs:
- Acer japonicum
- Acer palmatum
- Amelanchier
- Berberis thunbergii
- Ceratostigma willmottianum
- Cercidiphyllum
- Cercis
- Cornus
- Cotinus
- Cotoneaster
- Enkianthus
- Euonymus europaeus
- Euonymus alatus
- Fothergilla
- Ginkgo
- Hamamelis
- Hydrangea quercifolia
- Liquidamber
- Malus
- Prunus
- Rhus
- Sorbus
- Vaccinium
Plants for Fruits & Berries:
- Arbutus
- Callicarpa
- Clerodendrum fargesii
- Crataegus
- Euonymus europaeus
- Euonymus alatus
- Gaultheria
- Ilex (female varieties)
- Iris foetidissima
- Malus
- Pyracantha
- Skimmia (female varieties)
- Taxus baccata
- Viburnum opulus
Flowering Plants:
- Anemone hupehensis
- Anemone hybrida
- Calluna
- Camellia sasanqua
- Chrysanthemum
- Colchicum
- Cyclamen persicum
- Hesperantha
- Pansies & Violas
- Prunus ‘Autumnalis’
- Skimmia
- Symphyotrichum (Aster)
- Viburnum bodnantense
Grasses:
- Calamagrostis
- Cortaderia
- Deschampsia
- Hakonechloa
- Imperata
- Miscanthus
- Panicum
- Pennisetum
- Stipa gigantea
- Stipa tenuissima
Climbers:
- Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’
- Clematis cirrhosa ‘Lansdowne Gem’
- Clematis napaulensis
- Clematis tangutica
- Hydrangea petiolaris
- Parthenocissus quinquefolia
- Parthenocissus tricuspidata
- Vitis
Roses for hips:
- Rosa canina
- Rosa rugosa
- Rambling Rector
- Shropshire Lass
- The Generous Gardener
- The Lark Ascending
Bringing Autumn Colour to Your Garden
With the right combination of trees, shrubs, grasses and flowering plants, your garden can remain full of colour and interest long after summer has faded. Whether you have space for a single specimen tree or want to brighten borders with autumn flowers and berries, there are plenty of plants that will keep your garden looking its best while also providing valuable food and shelter for wildlife throughout the season.
Continue your Gardening Journey
Need a little extra advice? Visit your local Tates of Sussex Garden Centre today, where our friendly knowledgeable, team will be happy to help you choose the right plants and offer expert guidance.
