Autumn Colour

(An edited version of this article appeared in the November issue of the Cheltonian).

As I write the late summer flowers are doing their thing to brighten up the garden – Japanese Anemones, Michaelmas Daisies, the larger Sedums, Helenium, Rudbeckia, Echinacea - the list is long and colourful.

However, as the temperature and the light levels drop these late flowers will soon be gone, then leaves and berries takes centre stage. A trip to our local arboretums, Westonbirt and Batsford, are always a great way to get ideas for autumn colour, even if we don’t have room for the largest of the magnificent Japanese Maples and the berry laden Cotoneasters.

There are plenty of shrubs that offer autumn colour, but I want to start with shrub roses. The cerise pink flowered Rosa rugosa, and the white flowered form Rosa rugosa alba, carry fat red hips and bright yellow autumn leaves. They are easy, grow to about 2m and can be pruned like a shrub to keep them in check if required.

For a more refined flower, try Rosa Hansa or the larger Roseraie de L’Hay (pictured) – all these have deliciously fragrant flowers. Even taller is Rosa moyesii Geranium, with bright scarlet flowers followed by clusters of hanging flagon-shaped hips.

Cotoneasters are good berry bearing shrubs, and among the best for small gardens are Cotoneaster lacteus, the old favourite Cotoneaster horizontalis, and the ground-hugging Cotoneaster dammeri.

C. lacteus is evergreen and can be clipped into a hedge or allowed to sprawl over a fence. C. horizontalis has “fishbone” shaped branches and lends itself to being grown against a wall. C. dammeri will sprawl over a rockery or, if planted at the top of a retaining wall, will grow over the edge and hang down as a green curtain studded with red berries.

For a stunning contemporary look against a white wall, Callicarpa bodinieri (var. giraldii Profusion) (pictured) grows clusters of violet purple berries which last after the leaves have dropped. To go with this Pernettya mucronata Mulberry Wine, an evergreen shrub up to 1.5m, has magenta pink berries, however it prefers acid soil, so is not suitable for the alkaline soil of the Cotswolds. (You may want to find out if your soil is acid or alkaline, in other words the pH level; DIY testing kits are available from good garden centres). The purple flowers of Liriope Muscari echo the Callicarpa berries, and contrast with the light green strap-like leaves which shine in the low light of November.

Another shrub with startlingly bright berries is the Spindle (pictured), Euonymus europaeus. The shocking pink turks-cap fruits burst open and from the tip of each section a bright orange berry is suspended like a pearl-drop earring. The leaves add to the effect as they turn deep red. This is a native plant which you will see in the hedgerows, but there are improved named garden varieties such as Red Cascade. It is not showy for the rest of the year so is more suitable for a woodland area or as a background shrub for spring/summer planting.

The Guelder Rose, Viburnum opulus, is a good companion for the Spindle, being another native with clusters of bright red glossy berries along with good leaf colour and pretty white lace-cap flowers. The sterile version, Viburnum opulus sterile, is only a one season wonder, as although it has a profusion of mop-head flowers turning from lime-green to white, it does not produce berries.

My final choice is Pyrancantha (pictured); a failsafe berry bearing shrub which works well with other evergreens. It lends itself to being pruned against a wall, or clipped into a hedge. It is very tough, and will reward you with white flowers in spring and dense red, orange or yellow clusters of berries.

Arboretum Websites
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
http://www.batsarb.co.uk

Sue Tallents
suetallentsgardens.co.uk