Eaglestone Landscape Design

Achieving colour in the garden throughout the autumn months is easier than you think. There are many perennials, shrubs and roses that will provide late colour for enjoyment. Days are shorter bringing with them softer light and colder evenings, however this brings out the best in many flowers and foliage. Below are some examples of late bloomers for you to look into. Firstly we will look at how to extend flowering periods.

Deadheading many perennials, roses and annuals will prolong their flowering periods. Making an effort deadheading is really worth while as you could get a month or more of colour. As well as deadheading, both regular watering (which at the moment is easy with all this rain) and feeding enhances plants (always use an organic feed). Liquid tomato fertiliser (which contains potash in abundance) is ideal for all late bloomers. This will give plants a really good boost to help them get though those cold winter months. Furthermore cutting back weak flimsy stems and seedheads throughout summer and early autumn will also encourage strong growth and extended flowering periods. Here are some of my favourites.

Rudbeckia fulgida – Extremely common herbaceous perennial. Ignoring that fact this is still a beautiful late bloomer, a worthy addition in any planting scheme. The striking golden yellow flowers are prolific stretching from late summer through to early autumn.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’- Many grasses are low maintenance and will last well into the autumn. Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’ is one my favourites. It is a deciduous clump-forming perennial with an an tall upright form. Silky-hairy spikelets are borne in the autumn.

Aster x frikartii - Upright perennial with profuse long-lasting lavender blue flowerheads. This plant will brighton up any border and is extremely easy to grow.

Hydrangea quercifolia - This plant patently gets its name from the fact that the leaves clearly resemble oak leaves (Quercus). Not only are the leaves stunning in their form but also with their colour in the autumn. The deep red/purple leaves are extremely impressive.

Penstemon – Many Penstemon will continue flowering well into the autumn if looked after throughout the year. Furthermore many are semi-evergreen which is a bonus in a predominately herbaceous border. They produce panicles of tubular bell-shaped flowers in mid-summer through to mid-autumn. Colours range from white to magenta-purple.