{"id":14949,"date":"2022-10-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-03T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=14949"},"modified":"2022-10-04T16:33:26","modified_gmt":"2022-10-04T14:33:26","slug":"october-plants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/2022\/10\/04\/october-plants\/","title":{"rendered":"October plants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As autumn tightens its grip on the garden, Tom finds pleasure in a medlar\u2019s mellow fruitfulness and a long-flowering aster that helps lift the spirits on misty mornings <\/p>\n\n

WORDS TOM COWARD | PHOTOGRAPHS JASON INGRAM<\/p>\n\n

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SYMPHYOTRICHUM LATERIFLORUM <\/em>VAR. HORIZONTALE <\/em><\/h4>\n\n

Height and spread <\/strong>1m x 1m.
Origin <\/strong>Eastern and central North America.
Conditions <\/strong>Most garden soils; full sun or part shade.
Hardiness<\/strong>RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b\u2020<\/sup>.
Season of interest <\/strong>September \u2013 February. <\/p>\n\n

I fell in love with this on my first trip to Great Dixter, back when Christopher Lloyd was full of energy and it was still an aster. It was a misty morning and the sight of it used as a low hedge, with a backdrop of topiary and late-season perennials was literally life changing. Profusions of white flowers with pink centres make a stunning show but its structure of horizontal, branching stems is possibly its greatest asset. These look good throughout the winter and should be cut down to the ground at the very start of spring. AGM*. <\/p>\n\n

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CROCUS SPECIOSUS <\/em><\/h4>\n\n

Height and spread <\/strong>10cm x 10cm.
Origin <\/strong>Turkey, northern Iran and Crimea.
Conditions <\/strong>Will tolerate damp soil but not waterlogged soil; sun or part shade. 
Hardiness <\/strong>RHS H6, USDA 3a-10b.
Season of interest <\/strong>September \u2013 October. <\/p>\n\n

This is a wonderful autumn-flowering crocus that deserves to be planted more often. Its striking flowers appear throughout September and October, sporting the most gorgeous, delicately veined, blue-mauve petals. It will work well dotted through the front of a border, and is also fun grown in a terracotta pot to be shown off by the door. But it is possibly most exciting when naturalised in a meadow. At Gravetye we have the most wonderful display that times perfectly just after the hay is cut and is clearly spreading itself by seed \u2013 a true sign of a happy plant. AGM. <\/p>\n\n

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MESPILUS GERMANICA <\/em>\u2018NOTTINGHAM\u2019 <\/h4>\n\n

Height and spread <\/strong>4m x 4m.
Origin <\/strong>Garden (species Iran and Black Sea coast).
Conditions<\/strong> Fertile soil; full sun.
Hardiness <\/strong>RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b.
Season of interest <\/strong>Year round. <\/p>\n\n

Medlars are among the most attractive and underrated fruit trees and are a good choice for a small garden. This particularly good-flavoured form has a slightly scruffy, yet charming habit, with large, very attractive blossom in spring. Medlar\u2019s autumn colour is perhaps the best of any fruit tree and the rose hip-like fruits are ornamental in their own right; they should be picked as soon as they start to ripen then left in the fruit bowl for a few days to \u2018blet\u2019, which will result in a sweet and juicy fruit to be enjoyed raw or turned into a delicious jelly. AGM. <\/p>\n\n

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SALVIA LEUCANTHA <\/em><\/h4>\n\n

Height and spread <\/strong>1m x 1m.
Origin <\/strong>Mexico.
Conditions <\/strong>Moist but well-drained soil; full sun, sheltered position (may be hardy through winter if not too cold or wet). 
Hardiness <\/strong>RHS H2, USDA 8a-10b. 
Season of interest <\/strong>May \u2013 November. <\/p>\n\n

Many of the New World salvias have the most wonderful long-flowering season and S. leucantha <\/em>is no exception, blooming throughout summer and deep into autumn with arching branches bearing the most extraordinary furry, purple and white flowers. Unfortunately, this lovely thing is tender but worth lifting and overwintering in a frost-free greenhouse. Cuttings are easy to root and best taken in July to make a good flowering plant the following year. Makes an excellent combination alongside the red Helenium <\/em>\u2018Moerheim Beauty\u2019. AGM. <\/p>\n\n

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LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA <\/em><\/h4>\n\n

Height and spread <\/strong>12-18m x 8m.
Origin <\/strong>Eastern USA.
Conditions <\/strong>Slightly acid soil; full sun to part shade.
Hardiness <\/strong>RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.
Season of interest <\/strong>October \u2013 December for the autumn colour. <\/p>\n\n

The highlight of this season is of course the stunning colours before the trees drop their leaves. There are so many wonderful plants to select for this moment but if I could pick only one it would have to be the sweet gum. It is sometimes confused with a maple tree but easily distinguished by its alternate leaves (maples are always opposite). The tree we have at Gravetye consistently gives us the longest autumn display of any tree. There are many named selections but this specimen continues to be the best I have ever seen. Can be easily propagated by layering. <\/p>\n\n

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MISCANTHUS NEPALENSIS <\/em><\/h4>\n\n

Height and spread <\/strong>1m x 1m.
Origin <\/strong>Pakistan to south-central China.
Conditions <\/strong>Well-drained soil; full sun and sheltered spot.
Hardiness <\/strong>RHS H6, USDA 4a-9b.
Season of interest <\/strong>September \u2013 March. <\/p>\n\n

This is a grass that has real elegance and magic all of its own. Through most of the season it is quite inconspicuous, making a neat clump of lush, green foliage but in late summer it starts producing its beautiful, delicately silky, cream-coloured f lower plumes that fade to bronze. These are borne on stiff, arching stems that can withstand the weather and will continue looking good until the very start of spring when it can be cut back. We seem to get best germination by laying the entire seedhead on the compost. <\/p>\n\n

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ROSA <\/em>\u2018GERANIUM\u2019 <\/h4>\n\n

Height and spread <\/strong>2m x 2m.
Origin <\/strong>Garden (western China and Tibet).
Conditions <\/strong>Moist but well-drained soil; full sun to part shade.
Hardiness <\/strong>RHS H6, USDA 4a-9b.
Season of interest <\/strong>August \u2013 February for hips; June for flowers. <\/p>\n\n

A hybrid of R. moyesii, <\/em>which Gravetye\u2019s creator William Robinson described in 1894 as \u2018the most startlingly beautiful wild rose that has come to us for many years\u2019. It continues to be one of best species roses available, and works well in a border or against a wall. Best of all is its large, pear-shaped hips that colour bright red and remain deep into winter. Flower colour is variable within the species, from soft pink to red, but this hybrid, raised at Wisley in 1938, has excellent orangey-red coloured flowers and is slightly more compact. AGM. <\/p>\n\n

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AMICIA ZYGOMERIS <\/em><\/h4>\n\n

Height and spread <\/strong>2m x 2m.
Origin <\/strong>Mexico.
Conditions <\/strong>Well-drained soil; full sun in a sheltered spot.
Hardiness <\/strong>RHS H4, USDA 7a-9b.
Season of interest <\/strong>June \u2013 November. <\/p>\n\n

Known as the yoke-leaved amicia, this woody-based perennial is an exotic-looking character from the pea family with gorgeous heart-shaped leaves in pairs on purple petioles and purple-green bracts making a magical foliage plant. The large, yellow flowers are produced at the end of summer as the cherry on top of the cake. Such a tropical-looking plant could be assumed to be tender but it has shown itself hardy down to -10\u00b0C. In cold winters it will die back to the base and reshoot in spring. We have had best results from cuttings taken in August. <\/p>\n\n

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BISTORTA VACCINIIFOLIA <\/em><\/h4>\n\n

Height and spread <\/strong>30cm x 1m.
Origin <\/strong>Tibet and western China.
Conditions <\/strong>Most garden soils; full sun or part shade.
Hardiness <\/strong>RHS H7.
Season of interest <\/strong>August \u2013 November. <\/p>\n\n

This lovely perennial forms a low, creeping mound of tiny, glossy, ovate leaves that in late summer and throughout autumn are covered in small, pink flower spikes. Although it creeps, it is a plant that will never get out of control and makes an excellent groundcover around shrubs and at the front of a border. We have an especially pleasing clump that trails over a wall where the flowers work well with the Mexican daisies around it. In autumn its foliage develops bright-red colour, with gold tints later in the season. AGM. <\/p>\n\n

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MOLINIA CAERULEA <\/em>SUBSP. ARUNDINACEA <\/em>\u2018TRANSPARENT\u2019 <\/h4>\n\n

Height and spread <\/strong>2m x 1.5m.
Origin <\/strong>Europe, Caucasus, Turkey.
Conditions <\/strong>Moist but free-draining, acid to neutral soil; full sun or part shade. 
Hardiness <\/strong>RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b. 
Season of interest <\/strong>August \u2013 December. <\/p>\n\n

A wonderful native grass that, as its name suggests, creates a beautiful transparent haze of flowers at the end of summer. It\u2019s a grass that will work well at the front of a border, adding an extra dimension to the planting and it brings you in contact with the garden as you brush past. In the autumn it colours up to a wonderful gold, although it will usually collapse in December. Our plant self-seeds quite freely around the garden and there is nothing quite like seeing a plant happily growing where it has put itself. AGM. <\/p>\n\n

*Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
\u2020<\/sup>Hardiness ratings given where available. <\/p>\n\n

Tom Coward is head gardener at Gravetye Manor in West Sussex gravetyemanor.co.uk <\/p>\n\n

\n\n

Places to visit <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Tom\u2019s recommendations for places to see seasonal plants at their best <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Be sure to check opening times. Some garden visits may need to be pre-booked. <\/p>\n\n

Merriments <\/strong>is a charming garden centre\/nursery in East Sussex with a hidden gem of a garden, and it has been a source of inspiration for many years. Four acres of perennials, exotic plantings, trees and shrubs showcase the plants to their best advantage. As well as being a beautiful garden, Merriments has become a centre for learning and it has given us great pleasure to send one of our apprentices there to study for his RHS Level 2. Every time he comes back he wants to try a new plant. Hawkhurst Road, Hurst Green, East Sussex TN19 7RA. Tel 01580 860666, merriments.co.uk<\/a> <\/p>\n\n

After working in hotel gardens for many years I\u2019ve realised that the experience of visiting and enjoying them is unique. This kind of garden presents several challenges to the gardener and few gardens have risen to these as well as the landscape created by Raymond Blanc and head gardener Anne Marie Owens at Le Manoir aux Quat\u2019Saisons. <\/strong>This is a garden that expresses the personality of its owner so well and the attention to detail throughout is an inspiration. The vegetable production is wonderful and is displayed on the menu with a beauty of its own. Most exciting for me is the beautiful and ambitious orchard, first planted in 2011 and documented in Blanc\u2019s book The Lost Orchard. <\/em>The orchard is now approaching its prime, and October is the perfect time to see the fruit Blanc is producing. The lunch isn\u2019t bad either. Church Road, Great Milton, Oxfordshire OX44 7PD. Tel 01844 278881, belmond.com<\/a> <\/p>\n\n

There are many wonderful spots in the UK to see fine autumn colour but every plant lover should try to see the New England fall at least once. I\u2019ve been lucky enough to visit this magical region several times though sadly, always out of season. Connecticut has many wonderful gardens but Hollister House Garden <\/strong>should be on any list. It was established by George Schoellkopf in 1979 with the inspiration brought back from some formative years in England. Great gardens, such as Sissinghurst, Great Dixter and Hidcote, were at the front of his mind as he started this labour of love. With the artistic input of his partner Gerald Incandela, and over 40 years of hard work, the garden has developed to a masterpiece where wild contrasts with formality to perfection. An example of New England gardening, from which old England could learn a lot. 300 Nettleton Hollow Road, Washington CT 06793, USA. Tel +1 860 868 2200, hollisterhousegarden.org<\/a> <\/p>\n\n

In the northeastern corner of Connecticut is a private 20-acre estate called Robin Hill <\/strong>that UK designer Dan Pearson has been working on for the past ten years. Managed by head gardener James McGrath, this garden shows what can be achieved when owner, gardener and designer come together. This lush landscape uses an intelligent style of wild gardening where the abundant local flora mingles with exotics and celebrates the surrounding landscape. Terraces, a cutting garden, orchard, moss garden and woodland garden blend together as one. Of special interest is a carefully managed New England meadow that can be viewed from the terrace of the house. It\u2019s a private garden but you can arrange a visit by emailing james.robinhill@gmail.com<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As autumn tightens its grip on the garden, Tom finds pleasure in a medlar\u2019s mellow fruitfulness and a long-flowering aster that helps lift the spirits on misty mornings 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