October is the month when we start to put the garden to bed for winter, as far as spring and summer flowering plants are concerned. However, there’s still plenty of colour to be had in the flower borders. Here are ten of the best plants for this time of year:
1. Chrysanthemum ‘Ruby Mound’ (Hardy chrysanthemum)
This beautiful variety is classed as hardy and grows in a pleasing, mounded shape. From late summer until autumn, it’s smothered in stunning, double, deep ruby-red flowers which make wonderful cut flowers. Plants may need to be lifted or protected over winter if grown in exposed, very cold areas.
- Flowers from July to September
- Borderline hardy in exposed, cold areas
- Grows to 50cm tall and 50cm wide
- Moisture-retentive, well-drained soil
- Full sun or part shade
- Sheltered
2. Cyclamen hederifolium (Cyclamen)
Hardy and easy to grow, cyclamen hederifolium starts to produce flowers at this time of year in various shades of soft pink and white with delightfully pretty, silver-lined leaves. Once established they’ll spread and are ideal for growing at and around the base of deciduous trees and small shrubs. They also naturalise well when planted in grass.
- Flowers from October to November
- Hardy
- Grows to 10cm tall and 15cm wide
- Humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil
- Part shade
- Exposed
3. Epimedium x versicolor ‘Cupreum’ (Barrenwort)
The colour of the leaves on this dainty-looking, evergreen, shade-loving, spring flowering plant is stunning at this time of year as the lime-green leaves turn to beautiful shades of orange-red. Ideal for the front of a border in a shady part of the garden.
- Flowers from April to June
- Hardy
- Grows to 45cm tall and 45cm wide
- Moisture-retentive, well-drained soil, ideally with leaf mould added as a mulch
- Full or part shade
- Exposed
4. Liriope mascari (Lily turf)
This versatile, evergreen plant has grass-like, fairly broad leaves, arch in neat-looking mounds and, when established, produce bright, violet-purple flowers on upright flower stalks. Although it can be grown in both sun and part shade, the flowers retain their depth of colour more in shade.
- Flowers from July to October
- Hardy
- Grows to 45cm tall and 45cm wide
- Well-drained soil
- Sun or part shade
- Exposed
5. Hylotelephium ‘Mr Goodbud’ (Sedum)
Another easy-to-grow plant that continues to flower and look good, usually until the end of this month, attracting many pollinating insects in the process. ‘Mr Goodbud’ produces large domed-shape heads of deep red-mauve flowers on blue-green stems from July right the way through to October. Keeping the spent flower heads on over winter, not only provides winter food for birds in the form of seeds, but also gives the border some architectural structure and looks particularly good after a heavy frost.
- Flowers from July to October
- Hardy
- Grows to 30cm tall and 30cm wide
- Well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Exposed
6. Tricyrtis ‘Dark Beauty’ (Toad lily)
This unusual, late-flowering, woodland plant is an interesting addition to a shady border. The small flowers are star-shaped and white, and covered with so many purple dots on the petals that the flowers look almost purple. It is trouble-free if planted in soil that stays moist and kept clear of too many other plants.
- Flowers from September to October
- Hardy
- Grows to 90cm tall and 50cm wide
- Soil that stays moist
- Shade
- Exposed
7. Sorbus commixta ‘Olympic Flame’ (Japanese rowan)
An easy-to-grow tree with an upright habit and spectacular autumn colour, when the leaves turn fiery shades of red and orange, like the colours of the Olympic flame! It also produces orange-red berries at this time of the year, much loved by birds and creamy-colour flowers in the spring.
- Flowers from April to May
- Hardy
- Grows to 600cm tall and 350cm wide
- Moisture-retentive, well-drained, ideally acidic, soil, and will tolerate most free-draining soil types
- Sun or part shade
- Exposed
8. Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ (Eastern redbud)
Plant this graceful looking, large shrub in a part of the garden where the sun shines through the beautiful, dark purple, heart-shaped leaves and the overall effect will be to create a glorious pattern of different shades of purple leaves, making it the ideal focal point shrub, with added striking autumn interest as the leaves change from purple to orange-red.
- Flowers April
- Hardy
- Grows to 600cm tall and 600cm wide
- Fertile, well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Exposed
9. Nandina domestica ‘Richmond’ (Heavenly bamboo)
A medium-height, evergreen shrub with many seasons of interest. It’s low maintenance, with pretty white summer flowers and deep red, cheerful looking berries over winter. Autumn is when this shrub really comes into its own as its leaves turn the fiery colours of a bonfire!
- Flowers from July to August
- Hardy
- Grows to 120cm tall and 120cm wide
- Moisture-retentive, well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Exposed
10. Acidanthera murielae (Abyssinian gladiolus)
Bulbs are another way of introducing autumn colour to the garden. The flowers on the Abyssinian gladiolus are white with striking, dark purple splashes on their inner centres and, best of all, are scented. They make wonderful, long-lasting, cut flowers, and are best planted in pots or containers with added grit to give them the best free-draining soil that they require.
- Flowers from August to October
- Hardy
- Grows to 90cm tall and 50cm wide
- Well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Exposed
This October, make sure your garden looks bright and inviting with these plant recommendations.
Learn how to get the most out of your clay-soil garden:
Or check out my Pinterest board for more ideas:
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
Leave A Comment