As the days and nights become a little chillier the colours in the garden grow stronger, with many trees and shrubs turning brilliant shades of reds, yellows and oranges. October is the harvest season and many other plants are producing distinctly coloured fruits and seeds before they go into hibernation for the winter.
Aconitums have hood-shaped flowers and Aconitum carmichaelii Arendsii Group ‘Arendsii’ has very dark blue flowers which give a wonderful contrast to the vibrant oranges and yellows that dominate in autumn. The flowers grow from tall, slender stems, reaching about 4.5ft (130cm), perfect for the back of a border. They prefer partial shade and rich soil that doesn't dry out.
The leaves of Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’ turn shades of brilliant dark red as the season progresses. This dense shrub has dark green leaves during summer and stems that have broad ‘corky’ wings on their four sides which add an unusual textural appeal. During the autumn it also produces small, purplish red fruits. It is the ideal shrub for a small garden as it does not reach more than around 3ft (90cm).
Crab apples always look stunning in autumn when their fruit begins to ripen, producing a brilliantly colourful display. Malus ‘Butterball’ has a slightly weeping habit and its yellow-orange fruits clothe these pendulous branches. Malus are easy to grow and form small trees that are ideal for a domestic garden. They give two seasons of interest as their pink flowers are beautiful in spring.
Ornamental grasses come to the fore during the autumn and Molinia is a great genus to use in mixed plantings. Molinia caerulea 'Moorhexe' reaches around 4ft (120cm) and has narrow, pale green leaves from which golden brown, airy stems emerge. They open to produce long-lasting feathery, purple flowers that fade to golden brown. Use them in your border to add texture and movement.
Parthenocissus tricuspidata is a fantastic climbing plant for walls or fences and it looks particularly stunning in autumn when its large leaves turn claret red, producing a stunning display for several weeks before they fall. Parthenocissus is a vigorous, self-clinging climber that will tolerate shady conditions - very useful for a north-facing wall! Trim annually to keep it under control.
Sedum 'Herbstfreude' adds fantastic colour in late summer and autumn. This variety produces small, dark, burgundy red flowers which are held in large heads of many hundreds. Sedums prefer to be grown in a sunny location, in free-draining soil. Their glaucous, leathery foliage is able to store moisture which it can use during extremely dry periods.