What’s in Season Now
This time of the year brings a stunning selection of plants that thrive in the cooler days ahead. Whether you’re looking to add bold colour, elegant structure, or long-lasting interest to your garden, now is the perfect time to plant and enjoy the beauty of the season. This month, we’re featuring three standout plants that are looking fantastic right now:
Camellia sasanqua
A true autumn gem, Camellia sasanqua dazzles with its semi-double flowers and glossy, evergreen foliage. Perfect for hedging, feature planting, or brightening up shady spots.
Care Tips:
- Light: Prefers partial shade but can handle morning sun.
- Soil: Acidic, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter.
- Water: Keep soil evenly moist, but avoid waterlogging.
Uses in the Garden: The elegant Camellia sasanqua produces beautiful semi-double blooms in shades of pink, white, or red, adding charm to autumn and early winter gardens. Its glossy green foliage makes it an excellent choice for hedging, espalier, or as a stunning standalone feature in dappled light.
Leonotis leonurus (Wild Dagga)
Fast-growing, drought and frost resistant, evergreen indigenous shrubs. They produce masses of showy, compact clusters of orange, white, yellow or cream velvety flowers repeated in circles up the length of every long stalk. Loved by birds and pollinators, it’s a must-have for wildlife-friendly spaces.
Care Tips:
- Light: Thrives in full sun.
- Soil: Well-draining soil; tolerates poor soil conditions.
- Water: Drought-tolerant once established; water moderately in dry spells.
Uses in the Garden: With its eye-catching tubular flowers, Leonotis leonurus is a magnet for bees, butterflies and sunbirds. This fast-growing shrub brings a bold splash of colour to the garden and works beautifully in wildlife-friendly or water-wise landscapes. Perfect for mixed borders or as a striking feature plant.
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
As its name suggests, this reliable perennial brings a joyful splash of colour to the garden in autumn, with its pink-to-rusty-red flower heads that attract bees and butterflies.
Care Tips:
- Light: Loves full sun but tolerates light shade.
- Soil: Well-drained, sandy or loamy soil. Avoid heavy clay.
- Water: Drought-tolerant once established; occasional watering in dry periods.
Uses in the Garden: A must-have for low-maintenance gardens, Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ produces clusters of pink flowers that deepen to a rich copper in autumn. It’s a favourite for attracting bees and butterflies and pairs beautifully with ornamental grasses. Ideal for rock gardens, borders, or containers.
