Flowers Colours In Autumn

These tend to be dominated by the daisy family at this time of year, with heleniums, helianthus, golden rod, rudbeckias, and Michaelmas daisies in bloom. Since most of these have daisylike flowerheads it pays to introduce some contrast, with perhaps the upright spikes of late-flowering red hot pokers, the large pale pink and white saucer-shaped blooms of Japanese anemones or a clump of Sedum 'Autumn Joy'.

In the shrub border, hydrangeas and hardy fuchsias are an important source of colour. Other late-flowering shrubs include pretty Caryopteris x clandonensis and Ceratostigma willmottianum. Both have blue blooms which look most attractive partnered with exotic Amaryllis belladonna, a slightly tender, autumn-flowering bulb with enormous, pink trumpet-shaped flowers held 60-75cm (2-2.5 ft) above ground.

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) is another autumn favourite, best grown in a mass on its own. However, varieties developed from this species offer such an enormous range of flower colours (pinks, purples, reds and whites) and foliage colours (green, gold, bronze
and silver) that you can create an eye-catching picture using just these heathers.
For accents of hot colour in the early autumn garden, berries are hard to beat. Hips of species roses such as Rosa moyesii, R. rubrifolia and R. rugosa are at their peak now, while cotoneasters, barberries, pyracanthas and pernettyas are also coming into fruit. All look magnificent set against a backdrop of yellowing leaves.
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The fast-growing, self-clinging vine Parthenocissus tricuspidata turns through yellow to fiery red before falling. Ideal for covering unsightly walls, its bare stems are in winter hidden by the evergreen foliage of a trained firethorn (Pyracantha sp.) whose huge bunches of red, yellow or orange berries persist for months.

Autumn Joy is a favourite subject for early autumn colour. Its pink-red flowerheads and fleshy pale green leaves are here backed by the 2.1 m (7ft) tall silky-flowered grass Miscanthus sinensis 'Silver Feather'. Vivid yellow is introduced with a clump of golden rod [Solidago 'Crown of Rays') and rich blue with the shrubby Ceratostigma willmottianum. A front edging of dark violet flower spikes (Liriope muscari) unites the display.

At a time when summer's blooms are fading and wilting, others emerge to bring new life to the garden. Delicate pink Nerine bowdenii, which needs plenty of sun and shelter, is backed by the 90cm (3ft) high, lavender-blue Aster x frikartii set against a sea of soft pink - the saucer-shaped flowers of Japanese anemones (Anemone x hybridd). In the background, the dusky-pink lacecap heads of Hydrangea villosa are reaching towards their ultimate height of 2.1 m (7ft).

Dahlias herald the coming of autumn, with morning mists and falling leaves. In a wide range of shapes and colours, dahlias bloom for many weeks - here pink cactus dahlias tone down the burning colour of the oronze-red Helenium autumnale 'Moerheim Beauty'.