From late August into early September there is a real sense of anticipation amongst the Sales Team as we wait to see the first buds of autumn unfurl and a whole new colour palette slowly reveal. There is something really special about autumnal flowers, their hues can range from jewel-like to pastel but the softer light makes them sing.

Here is a list of our personal favourites and why we like them.

Abi has recently joined us after completing a garden design course at Sparsholt where she is also helping to create their RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 exhibit this September. Her must-haves?

Hydrangea paniculata 'Polar Bear'

'Elegant and subtle, I like its slightly more open heads of flowers. So easy to look after and a great performer, it holds itself up well and there's no need to stake.'

Hylotelephium cauticola 'Lidakense'

'It's just so pretty and useful. Great for edging a path or front of border, it works well as 'froth' to frame more upright plants in a container.'

Alex loves the jewel-like colours of autumn and tries to include as many as possible in her garden by the river. Her tried and tested favourites are:

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Purple Dome'

'Why? It lasts such a long time with masses of flowers. The colour is really beautiful'

Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Little Henry'

'I love its large but delicate flowers with quilled petals. Very unusual, nothing else looks quite like it'

Many of you will know Julie and her faithful hound Archie the norfolk terrier. A keen gardener who has shown her previous garden for the NGS and is now planting a beautiful wood, Julie loves a pastel palette. Her two favourites are:

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'October Skies'

'A wonderful colour, it forms a fantastic shaped bush and does not fall over in the wind. A definite plus in my new garden'

Actaea simplex Atropurpurea Group 'Pink Spike'

'Architecturally stunning, with a wonderful scent. It is coming up beautifully in the garden. Quite simply I think it is an amazing plant'

Rachel who loves to create plants combinations both for us and her private clients has a couple of 'go-to' plants for the autumn border

SYMPHYOTRICHUM 'Little Carlow'

'For depth of colour and quantity of flower this has to be one of the best Michaelmas daisies. Not only that but the individual flower centres change from gold to red after pollination - ensuring that any new bees buzzing past move onto unpollinated flowers. Now that's clever and very efficient'

HESPERANTHA coccinea 'Wilfred H Bryant'

'I love this plant. When other border favourites are starting to fade during autumn this HESPERANTHA is only just hitting its stride. I have seen it many times flowering in early November and the colour mixes well with so many others especially dark reds and purples as well as whites'