3 Plants for a Colourful Late Summer Garden
Suddenly, summer is almost over. If you didn’t plant in your garden this summer, don’t worry. There is still time for new flowers that will grow well into late autumn. It’s still a good time to plant autumn colourful flowers if the weather is not too hot. And don’t forget that looking at green and beautiful colours in your garden not only brings you closer to nature, but it might also help with the winter blues. According to this NYT article, looking at plants can feel very uplifting during the winter months. We knew that, but we should keep reminding ourselves of the benefits of nature and plants.
So, what can you plant at the end of summer?
Here are three of the most colourful flowers you can enjoy in autumn
Helenium ‘Möhrheim Beauty’
Heleniums add a much-needed splash of colour in a late autumn garden. This is exactly the colour we are looking for to welcome us into a new season. The characteristic shape of its flowers doesn’t look like those of other daisy flowers and with their warm coppery-orange colour, will stay around until October. They can reach a meter if the soil is good. A great pollen and nectar source for bees and butterflies. And when the flowers, with time, lose their colour, their heads stay on top of the stalk throughout winter, making for a beautiful design sculpture.
Goes well with Sanguisorbia Officinalis ‘Black Thunder’, Aster novae-angliae ‘Violetta’ and grasses such as Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’, Stipa tenuissima.
Agastache ‘Black Adder’(Giant Hyssop)
From mid-summer to autumn, these fragrant flowers are a joy to look at for every garden. Loved by butterflies and bees with their purple lavender blooms and liquorice scented dark green foliage. This is one of the best plants for feeding pollinators. They bloom until mid-autumn in full sun and average moist soil. This beautiful perennial is air pollution tolerant and a popular plant since it continues to flower from summer to autumn. And don’t forget their highly aromatic leaves (smell of liquorice and lemon when you crush or break a leaf).
Tip: Don’t cut back the faded flower stems until early spring. They add interest and an additional dimension to a winter garden.
Goes well with Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ and Verbena bonariense
Aster novae-angliae ‘Violetta’
You will never tire of looking at these cheerful late-summer bloomers. The tall stems with mid-green leaves are topped with purple flowers, with a pop yellow centre. They love the sun, but they can also handle shade. If you have a spot off the sun that you wish to make more colourful and fun, Asters are an excellent choice. Also, Asters nourish pollinators and birds and make for an impressive butterfly garden. They can grow up to 90 cm in height and all they need is watering and feeding.
Goes well with Helenium ‘Möhrheim Beauty’, Sedum ‘Matrona’ and the autumn moor grass Sesleria autumnalis
Yes, summer is almost over, but don’t fret. Roll up your sleeves or hire a gardener to help you out. It’s all worth the effort if it is to enjoy your garden paradise for a few more months. A colourful autumn garden will also transition into winter easier. And don’t wait too long or you won’t have enough time before winter’s chill. Start planting!
More Tips & Advice?
If you need help with getting your garden projects going, or if you’d like to find out which improvements will work for your space, contact Botaniq for a consultation!
Content Editor Sofia Simeonidou