Five Favourites, October 2025

It may seem late in the year to start a new series, but since my Wild and Weedy Wednesdays fizzled out this year I need something to get me blogging more frequently again. So once a month (about mid-month) I will share five favourite plants for that month. Feel free to join me!

So, with October being my favourite month of the year it is hard to keep it to five, but here goes.

Aster pringlei/ Aster ericoides ‘Pink Star’

This is one of the Asters now called Symphyotrichum, but I have to look up how to spell that all the time!

This aster has featured in some of my Monday vases recently and is indeed a ‘star’. The original plant has spread, and the seedlings vary a little in colour and height, so on average it is about 60 cm tall. It requires no extra water all summer, unlike some of my other tall asters, as the leaves are very small.  The flowers are larger than most A. ericoides and appear from late September. They last extremely well, into November.

Miscanthus ‘Federweiße’

In the same bed as one of the pink star asters is a very tall Miscanthus – about 1.8m. It has grown into a large clump in the few years I have had it. The flowers/seedheads are silvery with a hint of pale gold, and they are without a doubt the best I have ever seen. When I bought the first one for the Oval Bed I loved it so much I immediately bought a second for the Moon Bed. The two I have are wildlife havens… the sparrows love using it for cover, and hares hide under it all year round. I have to be careful not to disturb a baby one when I cut them down in late winter. I haven’t tried dividing them yet, as it could turn out to be an overwhelming task!

Prunus incisa ‘Kojou no mai’

This dwarf ornamental cherry, framed here by the Miscanthus, asters and peony foliage, has tiny very pretty pale pink, almost white, flowers that are smothered in insects in spring. They do really need a darker background to stand out against, but the autumn colour makes up for that. I am considering planting a second one, simply for this autumn display, which is absoluetly breath-taking! (See my header photo above too) This one has been in the ground for about five years now and is still only 80 cm tall. I believe they don’t get much bigger than about a metre by a metre.

Chrysopsis speciosa ‘Sunnyshine’

Here in The ‘Edge flower bed is one of my Chrysopsis plants. If you plant one of these tall perennials it will form a large clump quite rapidly and will give you weeks of golden yellow flowers from late August through to November. The fluffy seedheads are also attractive. This is one of the toughest plants in my garden, taking heat and drought in its stride, and competing successfully with tree roots in the Sunshine Bed too.

Hazel, Diervilla, Euphorbia, Miscanthus ‘Red Chief’ and Chrysopsis in The ‘Edge

In the photo above you can also see my next plant…

Diervilla x splendens ‘Diva’

Tiny yellow flowers smother this small shrub in early summer, attracting lots of bees and small pollinators. The first leaves to unfurl in spring are a fresh lime green with a reddish tinge. They then turn to a dark reddish brown which contrasts nicely with the flowers. But in autumn this Diervilla has another surprise for you as it again changes to a gorgeous flaming red. For a dwarf shrub it really makes an impact.

Satureja montana

My last plant is small and not as noticeable as the other ones I have chosen to feature. I currently have this low-growing Winter Savory flowering in the Words & Herbs Bed, but I have several in different spots in the garden and they all flower at different times and grow to different heights- no idea why! One even has pinkish flowers rather than white. But one thing they all have in common is that bees LOVE it! Even on this misty morning, at a chilly 12°C, there are several small bees on it.

 Do you grow any of these? What are your favourite plants for the month of October? Do share!

Enjoy the rest of the golden month of October

and

Happy Gardening!