Garden experts pick the best plants to plant this autumn

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. 

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Asplenium trichomanes

<em>Asplenium</em> <em>trichomanes</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Dryopteris sieboldii

<em>Dryopteris</em> <em>sieboldii</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Polypodium vulgare

<em>Polypodium</em> <em>vulgare</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Polystichum 'Spiny Holly'

<em>Polystichum</em> 'Spiny Holly'

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Adiantum venustum

<em>Adiantum</em> <em>venustum</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Blechnum chilense

<em>Blechnum</em> <em>chilense</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Blechnum spicant

<em>Blechnum</em> <em>spicant</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Dicksonia antarctica

<em>Dicksonia</em> <em>antarctica</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Blechnum penna-marina

<em>Blechnum</em> <em>penna-marina</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Cyrtomium fortunei

<em>Cyrtomium</em> <em>fortunei</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Asplenium scolopendrium 'Angustatum'

<em>Asplenium</em> <em>scolopendrium</em> 'Angustatum'

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Polystichum setiferum 'Pulcherrimum Bevis'

<em>Polystichum</em> <em>setiferum</em> '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.

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Cyclamen coum

<em>Cyclamen</em> <em>coum</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Crocus tommasinianus

<em>Crocus</em> <em>tommasinianus</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Scilla luciliae (Gigantea Group) 'Alba'

<em>Scilla</em> <em>luciliae</em> (Gigantea Group) 'Alba'

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Allium siculum

<em>Allium</em> <em>siculum</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Leucojum vernum

<em>Leucojum</em> <em>vernum</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Camassia quamash

<em>Camassia</em> <em>quamash</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Fritillaria meleagris

<em>Fritillaria</em> <em>meleagris</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Crocus 'Ladykiller'

<em>Crocus</em> 'Ladykiller'

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Narcissus pseudonarcissus (13)

<em>Narcissus</em> <em>pseudonarcissus</em> (13)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Tulipa sylvestris (15)

<em>Tulipa</em> <em>sylvestris</em> (15)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Ornithogalum pyrenaicum

<em>Ornithogalum</em> <em>pyrenaicum</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Narcissus cyclamineus (13)

<em>Narcissus</em> <em>cyclamineus</em> (13)

Roses on repeat

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Rosa 'Hansa' (Ru)

<em>Rosa</em> 'Hansa' (Ru)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Rosa 'Esme' (HT)

<em>Rosa</em> 'Esme' (HT)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Rosa 'Madame Boll' (DPo)

<em>Rosa</em> 'Madame Boll' (DPo)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Rosa Chandos Beauty ('Harmisty'^PBR) (HT)

<em>Rosa</em> <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Chandos Beauty</span> ('Harmisty'^PBR) (HT)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Rosa The Generous Gardener ('Ausdrawn'^PBR) (Cl)

<em>Rosa</em> <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">The Generous Gardener</span> ('Ausdrawn'^PBR) (Cl)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Rosa 'Julia's Rose' (HT)

<em>Rosa</em> 'Julia's Rose' (HT)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Rosa Gertrude Jekyll ('Ausbord'^PBR) (S)

<em>Rosa</em> <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Gertrude Jekyll</span> ('Ausbord'^PBR) (S)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Rosa 'Perle d'Or' (Poly)

<em>Rosa</em> 'Perle d'Or' (Poly)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Rosa 'Reine des Violettes' (HP)

<em>Rosa</em> 'Reine des Violettes' (HP)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Rosa 'Climbing Cécile Brünner' (ClPoly)

<em>Rosa</em> 'Climbing Cécile Brünner' (ClPoly)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Rosa 'Direktör Benschop' (ClF)

<em>Rosa</em> 'Direktör Benschop' (ClF)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Rosa Lichfield Angel ('Ausrelate'^PBR) (S)

<em>Rosa</em> <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lichfield Angel</span> ('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.

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Verbascum roripifolium

<em>Verbascum</em> <em>roripifolium</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Seseli elatum subsp. osseum

<em>Seseli</em> <em>elatum</em> subsp. <em>osseum</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Geranium nodosum

<em>Geranium</em> <em>nodosum</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Primula veris (Pr)

<em>Primula</em> <em>veris</em> (Pr)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Tulipa sprengeri (15)

<em>Tulipa</em> <em>sprengeri</em> (15)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Persicaria orientalis

<em>Persicaria</em> <em>orientalis</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Erigeron annuus

<em>Erigeron</em> <em>annuus</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Lotus hirsutus

<em>Lotus</em> <em>hirsutus</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Deschampsia cespitosa

<em>Deschampsia</em> <em>cespitosa</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Digitalis purpurea

<em>Digitalis</em> <em>purpurea</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Hesperis matronalis

<em>Hesperis</em> <em>matronalis</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Papaver dubium subsp. lecoqii 'Albiflorum'

<em>Papaver</em> <em>dubium</em> subsp. <em>lecoqii</em> 'Albiflorum'

Pond plants

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Anemopsis californica

<em>Anemopsis</em> <em>californica</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Eriophorum angustifolium

<em>Eriophorum</em> <em>angustifolium</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Caltha palustris

<em>Caltha</em> <em>palustris</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra' (H)

<em>Nymphaea</em> 'Pygmaea Rubra' (H)

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Typha minima

<em>Typha</em> <em>minima</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Hydrocharis morsus-ranae

<em>Hydrocharis</em> <em>morsus-ranae</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Veronica beccabunga

<em>Veronica</em> <em>beccabunga</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Pontederia cordata

<em>Pontederia</em> <em>cordata</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Myosotis scorpioides

<em>Myosotis</em> <em>scorpioides</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Mentha pulegium

<em>Mentha</em> <em>pulegium</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Luronium natans

<em>Luronium</em> <em>natans</em>

The RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps gardeners choose the best plants for their garden.
Wild bees and other pollinators are in decline. The Plants for Pollinators initiative helps gardeners easily identify plants that encourage them back into the garden

Alisma plantago-aquatica

<em>Alisma</em> <em>plantago-aquatica</em>