Many container-grown hardy perennials can still be planted in November, but only when soil and plant condition are right. Some types are better left until spring, especially in cold, wet or exposed gardens.
Stonecrop (Sedum) is a tough, drought-tolerant perennial, but it isn’t indestructible. Give it sun and sharply draining soil, and avoid overwatering to keep it compact and floriferous.
Chrysanthemums aren’t just for cut flowers: in borders and pots they provide standout colour late in the season. The key to getting them through winter is avoiding cold, wet conditions and giving them the right protection.
Liriope is a tough, evergreen perennial with grassy foliage that comes into its own at the end of summer, when many other plants are fading. It thrives in partial shade to shade, needs little care, and adds structure to borders year-round.
Gazania (treasure flower) brings dazzling, daisy-like blooms to sunny beds and containers from late spring into autumn. Give it sun and sharp drainage, and avoid its biggest downfall: cold, wet conditions.
When summer crops and bedding flowers are fading, the garden doesn’t have to look tired. Choose the right autumn-blooming perennials and you can enjoy rich colour right up to the first frosts.
Autumn planting gives many perennials time to build strong roots in warm soil and cooler, moister weather. Come spring, they break dormancy faster, cope better with summer heat, and need less watering.
Peppers and chillies are tender perennials, not just annuals. Overwintering a strong plant indoors gives you a big head start, earlier flowering, and a noticeably heavier harvest.
Italian strawflower (Helichrysum italicum), often called the curry plant, is a sun-loving Mediterranean perennial prized for its silvery foliage and spicy fragrance. Give it warmth and free-draining soil and it will thrive with minimal care.
Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia, also sold as Salvia yangii) brings airy texture and long-lasting lavender-blue colour from mid-summer into autumn. Once established, it thrives in sun and free-draining soil with very little maintenance.
September is ideal for tackling weeds, repairing lawns, dividing perennials and planning bulb planting while the soil is still warm and workable. A few timely jobs now will make next spring easier and your garden more resilient year-round.
Peppers don’t necessarily have to end up on the compost heap after the final harvest. With the right autumn care, a healthy plant can overwinter and crop again next season without resowing.
Phlox is a classic cottage-garden perennial that brings rich colour, fragrance, and pollinators into the border with minimal fuss. Choose the right spot for the species, keep moisture even, and you’ll be rewarded with weeks of bloom.
Perennials are ideal for low-maintenance gardens, and many will stay attractive even through dry spells once established. Choose sun-loving, free-draining plants and you can enjoy a colourful border with far less watering.
Summer quickly reveals where a garden overheats and where it needs more shade and moisture. A layered planting scheme of trees, shrubs, perennials, groundcovers and climbers can noticeably cool the air and help the soil hold on to water.
Common yarrow is a tough, sun-loving perennial that keeps flowering through dry spells when many garden plants struggle. Give it lean, free-draining soil and restrained watering for strong stems and long-lasting colour.
Bergenia is one of the most reliable perennials, valued for its bold evergreen foliage and early spring flowers. It thrives in shade or sun, is easy to care for, and adds colour right through winter.
Globe thistle (Echinops) is a striking, drought-tolerant perennial with steel-blue flower heads that pollinators love. It thrives in sunny, free-draining borders and also makes an excellent cut or dried flower.
Got a spot that bakes in sun from morning to night? These tough, sun-loving plants cope well with heat and dry soil, and many will reward you with long flowering and reliable ground cover.
Red hot pokers (Kniphofia) bring bold, torch-like flower spikes in warm shades from summer into early autumn. With full sun and free-draining soil, they’re long-lived, pollinator-friendly perennials that are surprisingly easy to keep going year after year.
Southernwood is a hardy, low-maintenance perennial herb with finely cut foliage and a distinctive cola-like fragrance. Give it sun and free-draining soil, and it will reward you for years with minimal care.
Early summer is a key moment for pruning, but timing matters. Learn what to cut back in June for healthier growth and better flowering, and what to leave alone to avoid losing blooms or disturbing nesting birds.
Marsh marigold is a tough, low-maintenance perennial that thrives where soil stays consistently wet. It brings bright spring colour to pond edges, ditches and other waterlogged spots where many plants struggle.
Peonies reward a little know-how with decades of spectacular bloom and handsome foliage. Get the planting depth right, choose a permanent sunny spot, and they’ll flower reliably year after year.
Clematis rewards you with months of bloom when you match the variety to the site, keep roots cool and evenly moist, and prune at the right time. Learn how to plant, train, prune and propagate clematis for reliable, long-lasting performance.
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