Garden experts pick the best plants to plant this autumn
Looking for inspiration of what to plant this autumn? We asked top gardening gurus to give their selection of the best plants for different locations and conditions
Fabulous ferns
With their earthy magic and eye-catching fronds, ferns are a firm favourite for many gardeners. This ancient group of plants have survived climate change, dinosaurs and a plant craze in Victorian times that nearly drove them to extinction, but they remain indispensable in our gardens.
Polystichum 'Spiny Holly'
Dryopteris sieboldii
Polypodium vulgare
Asplenium trichomanes
Blechnum chilense
Cyrtomium fortunei
Asplenium scolopendrium 'Angustatum'
Dicksonia antarctica
Adiantum venustum
Blechnum penna-marina
Blechnum spicant
Polystichum setiferum 'Pulcherrimum Bevis'
Reliable bulbs year on year
Pouring through autumn bulb catalogues is a rare pleasure, seeking out those treasures to fill your garden, but some will last more than one season, making them a long-term investment that saves you money and will keep on growing.
Allium siculum
Scilla luciliae (Gigantea Group) 'Alba'
Crocus 'Ladykiller'
Crocus tommasinianus
Fritillaria meleagris
Leucojum vernum
Camassia quamash
Cyclamen coum
Tulipa sylvestris (15)
Narcissus cyclamineus (13)
Narcissus pseudonarcissus (13)
Ornithogalum pyrenaicum
Roses on repeat
Rosa 'Perle d'Or' (Poly)
Rosa Gertrude Jekyll ('Ausbord'PBR) (S)
Rosa 'Hansa' (Ru)
Rosa 'Julia's Rose' (HT)
Rosa The Generous Gardener ('Ausdrawn'PBR) (Cl)
Rosa 'Madame Boll' (DPo)
Rosa Chandos Beauty ('Harmisty'PBR) (HT)
Rosa 'Esme' (HT)
Rosa 'Reine des Violettes' (HP)
Rosa 'Climbing Cécile Brünner' (ClPoly)
Rosa 'Direktör Benschop' (ClF)
Rosa Lichfield Angel ('Ausrelate'PBR) (S)
Gentle self-seeders
Every garden needs a dainty gap-filler, and these plants, picked by experts, are the best to try in your gardens for a little bit of delicous froth. Take the laissez-faire approach, allowing them to add unexpected pleasure to sometimes tricky spaces.
Lotus hirsutus
Verbascum roripifolium
Seseli elatum subsp. osseum
Erigeron annuus
Persicaria orientalis
Tulipa sprengeri (15)
Primula veris (Pr)
Geranium nodosum
Papaver dubium subsp. lecoqii 'Albiflorum'
Hesperis matronalis
Deschampsia cespitosa
Digitalis purpurea
Pond plants
Pontederia cordata
Typha minima
Veronica beccabunga
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae
Caltha palustris
Eriophorum angustifolium
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra' (H)
Anemopsis californica
Myosotis scorpioides
Mentha pulegium
Luronium natans
Alisma plantago-aquatica
Shop at RHS Plants
Discover a huge range of stunning plants for sale at RHS Plants. Sign up for regular offers and updates.
This page is an adaptation of articles published in 2024 editions of The Garden magazine, free to RHS members every month when you join the RHS.