Flowers for late summer and autumn?

Hello everyone

My main flower period is going to be late summer to early autumn. And my main colours are green foliage and some flowers, and then deep purple, crimson-reds and pinks.

I have on my want list:

- Dahlias
- Salvias
- Echinacea
- Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy'
- Clematis viticella
- Astrantias
- Sweet peas
- Buddleja

But could really do with some advice... are there any low growing plants, or varieties of these plants, I could use for bedding in rich colours that will flower at the end of the season?

I'm also wondering if the Buddleja, Sweet peas and Astrantia might be finished by late summer too?

Basically, any tips from your own experiences of growing would be super duper! Especially if there are any plants (foliage or flowers) that would bring these colours for shade and semi shade at that time of year... I don't ask for much! :D

Thanks,
Jack

 

Hi Jack

Late flowers are Perennial Asters and Rudbeckia annuals (which you have mentioned)
Dahlias are late as well as long as you feed and dead head and living where you are should last well in to Autumn


Asters worth having a look and great for the butterflies and bees as a late feed before winter have a nose lots of choice
http://samshrub.co.uk/mailorder/index.php?cPath=24

Interesting to see what the GC members come up with

 

My dahlias and rudbeckia lasted into November last year. These posies picked are from 23rd October and 2nd November 2014 respectively.

 

Sedums don't really come into their own until late summer and will look good right through autumn. I took this on 1.9.14 and still not in full bloom.

 

I'd put in a word for Liriope muscari and Ophiopogon. The Liriope has grassy green leaves with spikes of purple flowers in late summer, followed by berries. Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens has stunning black foliage which sets off the lilac flowers really well. They're both tough plants which do well in shade.

 

Nemesias are low growing and flower right through

This pic was taken 28.11.2014

 

I love Schizostylis (the photo is taken from the web), they come in a range of shades from very pale pink through to red, will spread and need thinning every three years or so and mine were in bloom last year from the end of August until Christmas.

Mine are about 18" tall in flower and 12" leaves all year round but books often say they will grow taller so presume it depends on variety

 

These are all just brilliant, thank you everyone!