After a long summer gardens often look tired and worn out. There is no need to admit defeat though because there are lots of plants that will provide a colour boost in September. A few careful plant additions can make a real difference to your garden. This article explores some key plants to add late summer colour to your garden.
Weather patterns are turning increasingly extreme so that gardens are having to contend with extended periods of heat and drought. Summer storms can also wreak havoc. As a result borders and beds can begin to look past their best by the time that we roll into September. With the weather still mild and days relatively long it’s a great time to continue enjoying your garden, so consider adding some late summer stars.
Late season flowering plants to provide an Autumn flourish
Symphyotrichum (previously Aster)
Symphyotrichum brighten up a sunny border with a cloud of lilac daisy-like flowers in late summer. Attractive to pollinators they are a good addition to wildlife friendly gardens. Symphyotrichum ‘Little Carlow’ is a neat hybrid with sturdy stems which forms a mound around 90cm high. It is happy in most soils in a sunny or partly shady spot.
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas begin flowering earlier in summer but they really come into their own as the days begin to shorten. In particular many of the paniculata species grow ever more flamboyant as the weather cools.
With giant panicles of creamy white flowers which turn a brilliant pink as the rich colour develops Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanille Frais’ is a great choice. With a potential height and spread of 2m this shrub does need plenty of space. It will do best in part shade with moist, humus rich soil.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ can be used to illuminate a gloomy corner as its panicles start a zingy lime green before maturing to creamy whiteness. If you are short on space or wish to grow it in a container consider trying Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lime’ which reaches a maximum height and spread of around 1.2m.
Japanese Anemone
Happy in sun or part shade the Japanese anemone can sprinkle colour through a fading perennial border. Anemone hupehensis ‘Hadspen Abundance’ has rich pink petals which contrast luxuriously with its yellow stamens.
Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ has masses of bright white flowers with glorious yellow stamens and is particularly good in a shady spot. Beware though that this variety will spread when happy.
Hylotelephiums (previously Sedum)
Hylotelephiums offer a great option for late colour in full sun with a vast range of flower and foliage tones to complement any planting scheme. Hylotelephium ‘Matrona’ is a popular variety with large heads of tiny pale pink flowers held up on deep maroon stems.
By contrast Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Brilliant’ has brighter fuschia pink flowers held aloft on bright grey/green foliage and stems.
Dahlias
Once seen as old fashioned Dahlias are enjoying a well-deserved revival. With a wide range of colours and flower forms available they offer an excellent source of colour for a long season. Single dahlias with their open centres are excellent for pollinators. The spiky cactus, pom-pom and waterlilly shaped flowers offer a vast choice of form as well as colour. If you keep deadheading the spent flower heads Dahlias can continue to flower until the first frosts.
Hesperantha (often known as Kaffir lilly or Schizostylis )
Hesperantha coccinea provide a brilliant splash of upright colour with their gladiolus like flowers from September and on into October. Flowering may continue into November in milder areas. With varieties ranging from red and pink to white and their delicate floating flowers they are an attractive autumn highlight. The leaves are strap-like and semi-evergreen and they prefer a moisture retentive soil in a sunny spot.
Autumn flowering bulbs and corms
Another option to add some late summer colour to the garden is with the use of Autumn flowering bulbs and corms. Most gardeners are familiar with the routine of planting bulbs in Autumn to ensure we have a surge of colour in Spring. But bulbs can also provide an injection of late summer and Autumn interest.
Cyclamen hederifolium
The perfect option to brighten up a shady spot under trees. Cyclamen hederifolium flowers range from deep to palest pink and often emerge before the leaves in September and October. The leaves are attractively veined and marbled in shades of green and silver providing ground cover on into winter. Once established this Cyclamen should happily self seed to form
Colchicum autumnali
Sometimes called Autumn crocuses but not actually related, Colchicums provide a dramatic splash of colour as their flowers appear alone in Autumn. They can be naturalised in grass or used to provide interest at the front of borders or around trees.
Nerine bowdenii
A repeat flowering bulb that once established will provide a brilliant display from September into Autumn. Preferring a sunny, sheltered position the flowers emerge from usually bare bulbs as the leaves have already died back. Nerines can also be grown in pots.
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