Plants for autumn interest

Autumn is my favourite time of year.  From the equinox onwards, there is a magical pause in the garden – plants continue to sing, deepening into their autumn hues, while weed and grass growth slows before eventually coming to an end. 

After a busy summer, the autumn brings a sense of calm - no urgency to do anything .  There is a long winter stretch ahead to tidy and to prune and to clear away debris.  Autumn is when I feel like I can take a lovely big exhale and simply enjoy observing the plants in the last of their glory, before they go dormant for the winter.

A series of light, early autumn frosts this year resulted in some of the most incredible autumn colours I have seen in years.  Two plants that were especially stunning in my garden were the Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-No-Mai’, whose leaves turned into so many shades of red and amber, and the Acer palmatum dissectum, which was aglow for several weeks.  Out walking on the old railway near my house, the Acer platanoides boasted the most alluring buttery yellow tones, which contrasted perfectly with the bright blue skies of autumn.

Acer platinoides

It has been a cold start to the autumn, and warm clothing has been essential for those clear and bright yet bitter days.  I have been enjoying the outdoor wear from Lighthouse Clothing – especially their padded long jackets which help to keep me warm and cosy.  

My husband, who is not a gardener, asked me if I had ever created an entire planting design or garden based on autumn colour alone.  I said no, I hadn’t, but I love the idea of it.  All too often my planting designs are based on a climax of colour in mid summer, with some autumn interest plants added to carry the garden through till the end of the year.  Just imagine an entire garden turning fiery shades of yellow, orange and red for the autumn season…..

It made me think about plants that add interest to the autumn garden – there are so many.  I especially love incorporating textures for autumn interest - most obviously ornamental grasses, which really come into their own in autumn.  Not only do they create movement as they sway in the breeze, they also offer fantastic winter structure to carry the garden through till spring.

Carex elata ‘Aurea’

My favourite grasses, that I find work reliably in Scottish gardens – especially here in the west of Scotland – are Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ and various cultivars of Miscanthus sinensis.  I personally like ‘Gracillimus’, ‘Yakushima Dwarf’ and ‘Morning Light’ the best.  While Molinia does well in the summer, and even into autumn, I find they fall at the first strong winds of winter, therefore they don’t earn their space in a planting scheme, especially in a small garden where winter structure is so valuable.  Other grasses which offer year-round interest are Carex buchanii, Carex elata ‘Aurea’ and Ophiopogon plansicapus ‘Nigrescens’.

Evergreen ferns and variegated plants add yet more interest to the autumn garden.  Some of my favourite green and white plants are at their finest in a shady bed, as the colours help to reflect the light and bring a welcome shine to a dark corner.  These plants also add so much value, in comparison to flowers, because of their long season of interest.  My favourites are Euphorbia ‘Silver Swan’, Blechnum spicant, Euonymous ‘Emerald Gaiety’ and Brunnera ‘Looking Glass’.

Euphorbia ‘Silver Swan’

There is so much to celebrate about an autumn garden. Enjoy noticing the intricacies of the season while it lasts.