Colourful autumn/winter outdoor plants

I welcome any suggestions for fairly hardy plants that can be displayed in England at this time of year and through the winter on a small rectangle on land outside a house, preferably those that will not need re-potting once planted in pots/containers (though it is not a problem if they need to be.) Was hoping to acquire some Sempervivums and Sedums, but are these available for planting at this time of year, and will they be suitable? Thanks.

 

Pieris (if I've spelt that right) is a little shrub whose leaves go bright red (and don't fall off) in autumn, then you get little white almost spherical flowers in late winter.

 

They do it again in spring-and you spell it as I do ( I hope it is right)-I prefer the dwarf variegated type which I keep at around 3/4 ft tall, skimmias are the same and have a gorgeous scent in spring, maybe I am biased but the foliage of herbaceous peonies go a beautiful colour at Autumn time, that of a deep burgundy, day lilies turn a stunning banana yellow too, and look like pom-poms at the moment, they currently flank the yellowing hydrangea leaves behind them in my garden and that is my current favourite part of my garden. Like Springtime-my garden is mostly yellow at this time from the slow dying back of plants, and like JWK suggests a splash of vibrant colour from violas set amongst this yellow really looks wonderful.

Cornuses do an really good job of bringing colour into the annual decay of plants in a garden. I am considering some of those lemon scented conifers for next year as well.

Good Luck, I think this time of year seperates the men from the boys in gardening terms.


Unfortunately, not eventually having to repot a plant is probably not a viable aim as I have found this to be impossible in my own experience. A beautiful garden is not easy to acheive, and nigh on impossible without some level of care and attention-which is part of the allure it holds for me. Pots are an unnatural environment for plants, and allowances for this must be made.

 

Thanks for all your posts. Looking forward to using some of those examples - I already grow pansies and violas in that place and I agree, they sparkle up the display very pretilly and are easy to look after. As for re-potting, its a task I do enjoy, was just thinking of time.

 

Shrubs: Viburnum Bodentense pink flowers over winter but can get big. Cornus there are some very nice varigated varieties with bright red or pink stems, Pieris as mentioned, winter flowering jasmin, Box golden varieties,
Perennials: some sedums, I have a large variety with big flowerheads that turn dark red and still look attractive. Kaffier lilies flower late and last quite well. Cyclamen
Annuals: Rudbeckia have a long flowering period
Looking round my garden now there is still quite a lot in flower. I still have nasturtiums, kaffer lilies, cyclamen, fuchsias, jasmin, rudbeckia, pansies, and campanulas

 

Heucheras are good for winter foliage colour. No flowers, but they come in a multitude of shades, from yellow/green through to bronze and purple and look really effective planted en masse.

 

Pansy's, viola's, polyanthus, cornus alba rubera is a great winter structure plant, sempervivum is a good plant for the winter also, azalea's are also quite nice. winter marigold has just finished flowering, primrose is also nice, ranunculus is a beauty but its expensive, helichrysum variegated is nice too, hope that helps.

Joe Turnbull

 

Leucothoe " scarletta "is a lovely plant at this time of year with its red and bronze foliage .....