Late summer does not have to be dull as the glorious abundance of summer colour fades away into the misty mornings of the autumn. This time of year enables you to fill some of the gaps left by the tender annuals that disappear at the first drop in temperature. The most colourful and best performing are the daisy type flowers, and these are my favourite daisy flowers are always such happy flowers!

Asters are excellent plants for this time of year commonly called Michaelmas daisies, named after Michaelmas day on 29th September. The plants vary in height from compact dwarf varieties that look great at the front of the border to ones that grow to 2 feet high, and providing they are staked, are excellent at the back of the border.

Helianthus are another good plant for late colour again a daisy like plant, but one that may be grown from seed as they are annuals.

Echinacea you may already benefit from the health benefits of this plant as this is frequently found in health food shops as a vitamin and mineral supplement. But you should have these in your garden too. I love these clump forming plants, and so the bees and butterflies that dance across the cone shaped flowers.

Some examples of each of these plants are below:

Aster Purple Dome the rich purple of this plant adds richness to the garden and grows to approximately 2 feet (60cm) high.

Aster divaricartus this is useful if you have a shady, woodland area that is in need of some brightness. It is small and compact with pretty white blooms with yellow centres.

Helianthus Lemon Queen this is a gloriously happy plant to have in your garden. This giant grows up to 7 feet (120cm) tall but the pale yellow blooms are held aloft on bushy stems and if you keep deadheading, you will be rewarded with continuous flowering until late autumn. This is an annual, but buy the seed now for next year and get ready to start off the seeds on your windowsill for strong plants next spring.

Echinacea Rubinglow a smaller plant that reaches only 22inches (55cm). The stems hold the strong pinky-purple flowers that look great when planted in drifts of 3, 5 and 7 always use odd numbers as this is said to reflect natures own symmetry and the clumps will form over the years for a delightful display.

You should not forget bulbs at this time of year nerines have a gorgeous pink bloom, although little foliage, that can look quite stark, but striking.

Cyclamens are just appearing in the garden centres and they white ones are amazing when planted under trees and the white blooms have a translucent quality that perfectly compliments the dark green foliage.

Learn more about this author, Isabel Sacks.
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