What is in flower in October
Everything is feeling soggy, Not crisp and cold and burnt umber as I was hoping for, just damp. What you have out now is going to be so much more dependent upon where you are than it was in, say, June. If you are up north, it is likely that it is all scarves and hats and the flowers are long gone. As it is, here there are still sweet peas and roses and buckets and buckets of dahlias.
Surprise of the season goes to the Rudbeckia triloba though. I cut it down in the big clear and more out of guilt than anything else, mixed it with armfuls of devil’s bit scabious and bronze fennel (and a simple stem of thalictrum) and put it on the kitchen table to get in the way. When the books arrived, it was delegated even further down to sitting in the corner of the courtyard, the pot filling up with rain and the scabious inelegantly rotting. The rudbeckia on the other hand, has just kept flowering. Tiny little stellar flowers I grant you, but flowering all the same. I rather like them. I found an old packet of seed in a studio clear out yesterday and they are going right back on the list for next season. (My camera roll says that it was cut on 22 August. To still be giving colour and happiness some six weeks later is quite some vase life.)
Other things looking glorious right now are the Hopi sunflowers. All the big heads have been harvested and are in the dry, waiting for the seeds to be removed and stored. This means that there are tiny little side shoots of flowers which I find very sweet. The colour of these is so incredibly warm, although I cannot make up my mind about whether to put it in a vase or use the petals for bundle dyeing.) Also, because I have been rather slack at weeding in certain areas this year, the most perfect daucus carota has emerged just by the back gate.
Even better than all of those things are the sweet peas. I have cut about four for the house all summer and my discipline has been rewarded in spades, not only by pods and pods of seed, but also by flowers that just seems to keep on going, I have spoken before about my love of imperfection, and at this time of year, in all of this rain and wind, the mottling is amazing. The lowest one in the picture is called ‘flake’ and I am seriously considering whether I like it even more than Nimbus. And I never thought I would say that about any lathyrus odoratus..
The dahlia is creme de cassis. Not quite so sure I love that one, but I cannot question its generosity.
In a UK garden, October may see the decline of many summer blooms, but several plants continue to provide colour and interest well into autumn. Here's a selection of flowers that are typically still blooming in October:
1. Roses
Many repeat-flowering roses, particularly modern varieties, continue to bloom in October, albeit with fewer flowers than in summer. The cooler weather often intensifies their fragrance, adding an extra layer of charm to autumn gardens.
2. Asters
Known for their star-shaped flowers, asters come into their own in autumn. They offer a range of colours, from soft blues and purples to vibrant pinks, and provide vital nectar for late-flying pollinators.
3. Japanese Anemones (Anemone hupehensis)
These elegant, airy flowers continue to bloom through October, offering pink or white blooms that seem to float above their foliage. They are long-lasting and thrive in shady areas, adding a delicate touch to the autumn garden.
4. Dahlias
Although dahlias peak in late summer, they continue to flower until the first frosts. Their bold, vibrant colours, from oranges to purples and deep reds, make them a popular choice for October cutting gardens.
5. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedums like Sedum spectabile are still in bloom, with their large clusters of star-shaped pink or red flowers providing both structure and late-season nectar for pollinators.
6. Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan)
Rudbeckia plants, with their golden-yellow daisy-like blooms and dark centres, continue to brighten up the garden in October. They are hardy and reliable, standing out in autumn borders.
7. Michaelmas Daisies (Aster novi-belgii)
These late-flowering perennials are named after Michaelmas, which falls at the end of September. Their delicate flowers in shades of blue, purple, and white are a quintessential sight in autumn gardens.
8. Nerines
Nerine bowdenii produces bright pink, delicate blooms on slender stems in October, offering a splash of colour when other flowers are fading. They are perfect for adding late-season interest in sunny, well-drained spots.
9. Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are classic autumn flowers, with many varieties blooming through October. Their range of colours and forms make them versatile for both borders and cut flowers.
10. Cyclamen hederifolium
This hardy cyclamen species blooms in autumn, producing small, delicate flowers in shades of pink and white. They thrive in shady areas and are particularly suited to woodland gardens.
These flowers not only extend the garden's seasonal interest but also provide an abundance of material for indoor arrangements well into October. While the temperatures cool, the UK garden still has plenty to offer those who love cut flowers.
THE ULTIMATE GARDENING CHECKLIST
Welcome to my flower garden at Malus Farm. I do lots of things here: grow apples and roses, eat in the long table in the orchard, cut armfuls of flowers for the house. I potter with the dogs, and I wear wellingtons all summer and tweed all winter. But my heart’s desire and my life’s passion, is growing flowers.
Like (almost) all gardening tasks, growing flowers is breath-takingly simple when you know what you are meant to be doing and when.
This is why I created the ultimate guide - a printable pdf of all the jobs for the garden in October, the flowers that are out, and the seeds you can sow. Yes, even in October.
At the beginning of the month, I print mine out, put it on a clipboard, and hang it up in my potting shed. To get yours, just sign up below.