As perennials start to wind down, these shrubs provide vibrant foliage, rich berries, and late blooms that keep borders glowing through the cooler months. From colourful Cornus stems to the fiery foliage of Rhus, here are some of our top shrub picks to bring structure and seasonal drama into your space this autumn.
Abelia is a semi-evergreen shrub with arching branches that produce small, fragrant, tubular white or pale pink flowers from summer through to October. The ‘Kaleidoscope’ variety adds striking variegated foliage that shifts from golden-yellow to warm orange-red as the season changes. Compact and easy to care for, it’s ideal for borders or containers.
Flowers: June – October (depending on the variety)
Position: Full sun
Height: Up to 1.5m (depending on the variety)
Soil: Well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L + (subject to availability)
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Fuchsias are beloved for their long flowering season, offering vibrant, two-tone hanging blooms well into autumn. Compact varieties like ‘Tom Thumb’ and ‘Mrs Popple’ are perfect for pots or low borders, while ‘Genii’ adds golden foliage for extra interest. They thrive in sheltered spots and partial shade, and are especially valued for extending garden colour.
Flowers: June-October
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)
Soil: Fertile, moist well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L (depending on variety and subject to availability)
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Hypericum, or St John’s Wort, is a reliable late-season bloomer with sunny yellow star-shaped flowers and attractive seed pods. ‘Miracle Bliss’ has semi-evergreen foliage with colourful berries in autumn, while ‘Hidcote’ is a classic variety great for low hedges or mixed planting schemes. Ideal for pollinator-friendly planting.
Flowers: June-October (depending on variety)
Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)
Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)
Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)
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Potentilla shrubs are hard-working, low-maintenance plants that bloom generously from spring to late autumn. With cheerful flowers in red, yellow, white, or pink depending on variety, they’re perfect for borders, rockeries, or coastal gardens. Drought-tolerant and compact, they perform well even in poor soils.
Flowers: May – October
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Height: Up to 1m depending on the variety
Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)
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Known as the burning bush, Euonymus alatus transforms in autumn with vivid crimson foliage and corky winged stems that add texture and drama. Its neat, bushy habit makes it a popular choice for hedging or as a seasonal feature in mixed borders.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Height: Up to 2m
Width: Up to 3m
Soil: well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L ( subject to availability)
Also called spindle tree, this deciduous shrub bursts into flaming scarlet foliage in autumn, often followed by striking orange-pink fruit that lasts into winter. It’s a fantastic choice for wilder or woodland garden styles and offers great visual interest even after leaf fall.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Height: Up to3m
Width: Up to 2.5m
Soil: well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L ( subject to availability)
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Best known for its vivid clusters of metallic purple berries in autumn, Callicarpa ‘Profusion’ is a true standout shrub. While its summer foliage is attractive, the real show begins in autumn when the leaves drop and reveal the jewel-like berries along bare stems.
Position: Sun or dappled shade
Height: Up to3m
Width: Up to 2.5m
Soil: well-drained soil
Pot size: 3L, 10L ( subject to availability)
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Dogwoods like ‘Midwinter Fire’ and ‘Sibirica’ provide striking winter stems in fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow once their leaves fall. While they’re low-key during summer, their dramatic bare stems make them invaluable for year-round structure and colour, especially in mass plantings or alongside evergreens.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Height: Up to 3m (depending on the variety)
Width: Up to 2m (depending on the variety)
Soil: moderately fertile soil
Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L ( subject to availability and the variety)
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This upright, thorny evergreen shrub shines in autumn with dense clusters of red, yellow, or orange berries. Pyracantha is fantastic for adding colour to fences or walls and is popular with birds. Its spring flowers are also bee-friendly, making it a wildlife garden staple.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Flowers: May
Height: Up to 3m (depending on the variety)
Width: Up to 3m (depending on the variety)
Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
Pot size: 2L, 3LD, 5L, 10L, 20L + ( subject to availability and the variety)
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Cotoneaster offers multi-season appeal with white spring flowers followed by red berries that persist into winter. The horizontalis variety is particularly eye-catching, with its low, fan-shaped growth perfect for walls or ground cover. Autumn foliage adds further seasonal beauty.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Flowers: May-June (depending on variety)
Height: Up to 2m (depending on the variety)
Width: Up to 1.5m (depending on the variety)
Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
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Often called Heavenly Bamboo, Nandina has bamboo-like foliage that turns fiery red in autumn. Some varieties also bear clusters of red berries. Its compact form and colourful leaves make it perfect for containers, borders, or Japanese-style gardens.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Flowers: July (depending on variety)
Height: Up to 2m (depending on the variety)
Width: Up to 1.5m (depending on the variety)
Soil: moist, well-drained soil
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Commonly known as Guelder Rose, this deciduous shrub produces lacecap flowers in spring followed by brilliant red berries and rich autumn foliage. It’s ideal for hedgerows or naturalistic planting and supports a wide range of wildlife.
Position: Full sun – partial shade
Flowers: May – June (depending on variety)
Height: Up to 5m (depending on the variety)
Width: Up to 5m (depending on the variety)
Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil
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Rhus, or Stag’s Horn Sumac, is known for its dramatic fern-like foliage that turns intense orange, scarlet, and burgundy in autumn. Its fuzzy branches and upright panicles of fruit add bold architectural interest. Best used as a specimen plant due to its spreading habit.
Position: Full sun
Flowers: June – August (depending on variety)
Height: Up to 5m (depending on the variety)
Width: Up to 6m (depending on the variety)
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
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Skimmia ‘Rubella’ produces deep red flower buds in autumn that remain over winter, opening to creamy white blooms in spring. Its evergreen, glossy leaves and tolerance for shade make it an excellent year-round shrub for containers or underplanting in mixed borders.
Position: Partial Shade
Flowers: April – May
Height: Up to 1.5m
Width: Up to 1.5m
Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained acid or ericaceous soil
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With heart-shaped, deep purple foliage and pink spring flowers, this small tree or large shrub adds real drama. In autumn, its leaves turn vivid shades of red, orange and yellow. It’s a striking focal point for large borders or open spaces.
Position: Full Sun
Flowers: March – April
Height: Up to 10m
Width: Up to 10m
Soil: Moist, well-drained soil
Posted 15th Sep 10:52am
