SEASONAL STARS

Make your autumn garden a blaze of colour with these flowering faves to plant now

This reliable succulent has clusters of small flowers atop fleshy green leaves from early autumn. They start as cream, open to pale pink and finish a coppery-red. It thrives in full sun – especially hot, dry spots – and well-drained soil, and copes with drought once established.

Depending on the variety, this evergreen has masses of purple, pink or white flowers and ranges from a compact 60cm shrub to a 10m tall tree. Position in a sunny spot with rich, well-drained soil. It does require frost-free conditions so, in cold zones, grow a smaller variety in a pot and move it to a protected area.

A fast-growing flowering annual (or short-lived perennial), with fragrant blooms in yellow, red, pink, purple or orange. Give it a position in full sun to part shade. Liquid feed regularly with a high-potassium fertiliser and remove spent blooms to help promote more flowers.

This prolific flowering perennial blooms in a rainbow of cheerful hues. Plant in the garden in full sun – avoiding clay or sandy soils and harsh winds – or in a pot in a bright spot indoors. It grows best in cool to temperate climates but can also cope in mild subtropical areas.

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Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’

(Sedum spectabile) Plant in pots, en masse in garden beds, as a groundcover or as part of a mixed perennial border.

(Tibouchina spp.) Lightly prune after flowering to maintain shape. Feed in spring with a complete fertiliser.

Nemesia

(Nemesia hybrid) Grows into a compact mound about 30cm tall and wide, so suits pots and hanging baskets.

Tibouchina

Chrysanthemum

(Chrysanthemum sp. and cvs) Flowers come in a range of forms (single, pompom and anemone), and are long-lasting when cut.