October - James Alexander-Sinclair

Euonymus europeaus ‘Pumilis’Fruits ofthe seasonSometimes summer’s flowers arejust not good enough and we have towait until now for the main event. Atthis time of year certain trees andshrubs resemble an advancing phalanxof impressively bosomed dowagers.Their leaves may be a little tattered –and perhaps no longer quite à la mode– but they drip with berries that gleamlike tiered cabochons.Euonymus europaeus ‘Pumilis’DETAILS Berries light up native hedgerows • Their skinis distinctively ridged • Also try Euonymus alatus forperfect autumn colour • Take green wood cuttings insummer • Grows to 3mSambucus nigraDETAILS Use elder’s flat flowers for cordial and its darkberries for wine • Easily propagated from seed in autumnor cuttings in winter • Self-seeds prolifically • Grows to 5mAmpelopsis brevipedunculataDETAILS An energetic climber • The little green flowersappear in early summer followed by fruit that resemblesbirds’ eggs • Seed can be sown in autumn or softwoodcuttings taken in summer • Grows to 5mPhysalis alkekengiDETAILS Stunning berries are trapped within paperycages • Sow seed in spring • Only eat fruit once it hasfully ripened • Grows to 70cmSambucus nigraAmpelopsis brevipedunculataPhysalis alkekengi14www.gardenersworld.comOctober 2008

We love OctoberAster novi-belgii ‘Ada Ballard’FaithfulfriendI do hope that I don’tsound dismissive butthis is a reliable, oldfashionedMichaelmasdaisy. It’s no bad thing.Aster novi-belgii ‘AdaBallard’ will alwayscheer up an exhaustedautumn border andlooks super in a vase.DETAILS Watch out for powderymildew • Divide every threeyears to maintain good health• Grows to 1mGentiana asclepiadeaSuper troopersThe willow gentian, Gentianaasclepiadea, is one of the best lateplants. Disciplined pairs of deep-blue,goblet-like flowers march in linesbetween strongly veined, pointed leaves.DETAILS Does best in woodland in soil with a bit ofhumus • Will not thrive in chalky soil • Grows to 75cmPHOTOs: richard bloom; gap photos/jerry harpuk, dianna jazwinski, neil holmesBamboozledYou may recall Dick van Dyke singing “You canhave me hat or me bumbershoo*, but you’dbetter never bother with me ol’ bamboo” inChitty Chitty Bang Bang. Bamboo is not justincredibly beautiful – it’s also very useful. Itmakes a great specimen plant, garden canes,a screen and also a snack for passing pandas.(*A bumbershoo is an umbrella)Phyllostachys vivax f. aureocaulisDETAILS Leptomorph bamboos run faster than Usain Bolt and should beconfined to wilder areas, but phyllostachys bamboos are pachymorphs,which are relatively well behaved • Foliage is sparse, showing off thethick, golden stems to great effect • Grows to 6mPhyllostachys nigra f. henonisDETAILS Black bamboo looks great in a big pot but needs regular feeding• Stem colour will only develop after two to three years if the plant isgiven plenty of light • Has a slender, arching aspect • Grows to 4mPhyllostachys aureaDETAILS Propagation is, in theory, simple: divide in spring • But these aretough old plants and you might need a saw and an axe • Grows to 10mPhyllostachys vivax f. aureocaulis Phyllostachys nigra f. henonis Phyllostachys aureaPHOTOs: andrea jones; gap photos/mark bolton, lynn keddie, clive nichols; richard bloom16 www.gardenersworld.comSeptember October 2008