According to the meteorological calendar, the first day of autumn is always September 1. But that doesn’t mean that your colourful summer garden has to fade away. The smartest planting keeps colour coming long after summer annuals fade, with bold shrubs that hold their shape through wind, rain, and early frosts. From pollinator-friendly sedums to glossy-leaved camellias, these picks deliver dependable interest when borders need it most.
Gardening experts, inlcuding the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), have shared five shrubs that are reliable, low-maintenance, and well-suited to UK gardens. The RHS said: “Autumn can be the most colourful of seasons, and it’s not just trees that put on a fiery display – many shrubs, large and small, are equally spectacular.”
Deciduous shrubs add a splash of colour to the garden before they shed their leaves. While some are in full bloom during autumn, others are laden with ripening fruit, which attracts wildlife.
1. Sedum
Also known as stonecrop, this sun-loving, drought-tolerant perennial bears flat, dusky-pink flower domes in summer that deepen to rust-red and feed bees and butterflies well into autumn.
Adding this shrub to your garden brings late nectar to borders, but for best results, you must give it full sun and free-draining soil. While sedum is generally pest-free, the RHS notes that it may be susceptible to fungal and bacterial crown and root rots.
2. Oakleaf hydrangeas
Large, cone-shaped white flower clusters age to blush pink. But it’s not just flowers that make this hydrangea shine; its foliage flames burgundy and scarlet in autumn, extending garden interest for months. They prefer sun to light shade, moisture-retentive yet well-drained soil, and a sheltered spot, which suits many British gardens.
This hydrangea variety is the only one that reliably produces colourful autumn foliage.
3. Aster
Often called Michaelmas daisies, asters deliver clouds of starry purple, blue, or pink blooms exactly when beds need a lift. They are adored by pollinators such as butterflies and bees.
Grow this bright shrub in full sun with moisture-retentive, well-drained soil. Choose modern, mildew-resistant varieties for longevity in the UK climate. Asters bloom from August until October or the first frost.
4. Camellia
For autumn colour, choose Camellia sasanqua, an elegant evergreen with glossy leaves and fragrant single to semi-double blooms from October to December. It excels in ericaceous (acid) soil, dappled shade, and a sheltered position away from early morning sun to avoid frost scorch.
As these are slightly less hardy than spring-flowering camellias, the RHS suggests growing these shrubs in sheltered gardens or containers placed in an unheated greenhouse or conservatory over winter.
5. Fuchsia
Hardy types, especially Fuchsia magellanica and its cultivars, drip with pendant red, pink and purple bells until the first frosts, keeping containers and borders lively.
They enjoy fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade, and a protective mulch helps roots through colder snaps.
Fuchsia is easy to care for if you stick to the basics, as suggested by the RHS. Advice is to deadhead to prolong flowering, water during dry spells, mulch in spring and in colder regions protect the crown over winter while avoiding waterlogged sites.
Pair these shrubs with ornamental grasses, heucheras, and evergreen structures so fiery foliage and saturated blooms pop in low autumn light.
You can plant fuchsia in groups for impact and stagger bloom times to create a pollinator-friendly, low-maintenance autumn display that performs in any UK garden.