Shrubs for Autumn Colour

September is the favourite month of many gardeners. Do you like the milder temperatures of autumn for gardening? Do you welcome the sight of leaves turning through all shades of green, gold and red to deep bronze, purple and brown? Here are some shrubs that bring colourful flowers, barks, berries and stems to the autumn garden.

Although it is the season of shorter days and longer evenings, autumn also brings the promise of rejuvenation. September has happy associations with new beginnings, perhaps linked to memories of a new term at school – the chance of a fresh start. And it is a good month for reorganising the garden.

All gardeners know that, as well as being a time for harvesting, autumn is a time to prepare for the next year. If you spot an attractive shrub in a local garden, it is the right time to order a similar variety from garden centre or nurserymen for delivery between now and spring.

Colourful foliage

The dark red-purple foliage of Cotinus ‘Royal Red’ complements the smoke-like fuzz of tiny pink-purple flowers in summer. In autumn the leaves of this unusual deciduous shrub change to a brilliant red, but remember it requires plenty of space, as does C. ‘Grace’, another truly splendid variety with leaves that turn to a vibrant, glowing red. C. ‘Golden Spirit’, grown for its yellow leaves, makes a smaller plant.

Also unusual is the filbert, Corylus maxima ‘purpurea’, a shrub with very dark leaves. It produces edible nuts in autumn, then purplish catkins in late winter followed by purple leaves. And some of the Euonymus varieties take on a pretty pink tint as winter approaches; on a wall, variety ‘Silver Queen’ will climb a few feet – and E.fortunei 'Coloratus' reach almost to the eaves.

Consider also evergreen heathers, many varieties flower until late in the year; others have yellow foliage. For a heather garden don’t forget slow growing conifers –some are naturally dwarf with feathery foliage that develops late autumn bronze-purple hues.

Colour from flowers and berries

Viburnum opulus ‘Notcutt’s Variety’ and the smaller ‘Compactum’ are red-berried cultivars of a deciduous shrub that produces yellow autumn foliage and attractive white flowers in spring. Bronzy-purple leaves in autumn, and fragrant white flowers from November to spring, make Viburnum farreri a gardening must have. V. x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is another marvellous shrub. The strongly scented pink flowers appear in late autumn on bare branches like blossom.

For a wall shrub, evergreen Myrtus communis is a plant I wouldn’t want to be without. Small, white fragrant flowers continue into September; purple-black berries come later in autumn and hold fast until the next year – or subspecies tarentina is a form with white berries.

Flowers

Most of the mop-head hydrangeas have inflorescence’ that, according to variety, gradually change in autumn to shades of pale greeny-brown or ruby-bronze that lasts most of winter in a semi-dried form. Hydrangea x preziosa produces bronzy-red flowers for September and reddish-brown stems, while H. arborescens ‘Annabelle’ has heads of white sterile flowers that last into autumn.

The shrubby veronicas can be useful as tidy plants that look neat at times of year when other plants are fading. For example, Hebe x franciscana ‘Blue Gem’ a small, evergreen, dome-shaped shrub continues flowering into autumn.

Fuchsias are an always reliably colourful addition to the autumn garden. Some of the varieties of F. magellanica are really hardy – standing up to winds and coastal weather.

Decorative barks and stems

Many shrubs are grown simply for the colouring of their bark. Silver birch (Betula) is the first plant that comes to mind for attractive bark – but this is a tree, rather than a shrub. However I intend to include it here, as in this vicinity there is a very effective planting of B. pendula in a large wooden tub that has been in situ for years. The bright golden leaves enhance the autumn scene and the white bark looks absolutely delightful in winter. Silver birch can be pruned into umbrella-like shapes for small gardens. A suitable cultivar may be used for providing a natural porch over a gate.

Cornus, popularly known as dogwood, is mainly grown for coloured stems. Cornus alba ‘Spaethii’ has both variegated leaves in summer and eye-catching red bark in winter. The young shoots of C. stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ are yellow, but the bark turns to red as winter approaches.

The autumn stems of Jasminum nudiflorum are noticeably green and the yellow flowers begin to appear as early as November. And don’t dismiss the often seen Kerria japonica - the bright green stems are more of an asset in autumn when the leaves fall.

Even in small gardens evergreen, variegated and deciduous shrubs with bright autumn foliage will transform the scene into a tapestry of interwoven green, bronze, reds, browns and bright sunbursts of golden leaves that last into winter.