Plants for October Interest

Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterfly’ A fantastic perennial, with its sprays of star shaped white pink flowers on tall spikes. It has a long flowering period from Summer into Autumn and works great with grasses and other flowing perennials. Grows best in moist well drained soil ideally in full sun, but can handle some dappled shade. Great for beneficial insects like bees.

Persicaria affinis ‘Superba’ AGM is a semi evergreen perennial which grows in wide mats that grow up to 20cm tall. Can be grown in most locations in full sun to partial shade. Excellent to use within a mixed border to add low ground cover interest during Autumn. It is also great for rock gardens and small spaces.

Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Atropurpureum’ is a small growing tree or large shrub that has a dome shaped habit. With its Deep Purple, lobed and finely toothed leaves that turn orange and crimson in Autumn.  Developing tiny purple-red insignificant flowers in spring which then develop into winged fruit in summer. Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Atropurpureum’ grows best in a fertile moist but well drained soil.

Traditional Ilex that delivers emerald green leaves with red to orange berries in winter, it is also excellent for providing food for wild birds. This robust cultivar can be used as screening, single stemmed evergreen tree or as an pleached evergreen. Can be trained into topairy such as standards and cones. The evergreen foliage will give structure and excellent foil for summer flowering shrubs and perennials.

Skimmia x confusa ‘Kew Green’ AGM is a small evergreen shrub with aromatic green leaves. It starts to form its tight clusters of green flower buds throughout winter before opening to white fragrant star shaped flowers in Spring. Perfect for a small garden in a mixed border, planted on mass or in a pot for autumn winter interest, grows well in full sun to semi shade. Being a male cultivar it doesn’t produce berries but will pollinate other female cultivars.

Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ AGM  A very tough and versatile evergreen grass, growing well in full sun to full shade in any soil type as long as it is moist and well drained. Forming neat mounds of variegated green/gold leaves, the variegation adds colour and interest even during the dullest of winter days. Can be planted singular in a border, rock garden or container. Can also be used as a low informal hedge or used on mass as a ground cover. Extremely tough as long as it is not allowed to dry out and very low maintenance.