Five autumn perennials for November

Lily turf

Throughout the year, this robust perennial has attractive mounds of grassy foliage. From late-summer, poker-shaped flower spikes appear, bearing pretty, purple blooms. Lily turf is also a great plant for dry shade.

Hesperanthas

Hesperanthas are pretty, bulbous perennials native to South Africa. They enjoy a moist soil and tend to perform better after a rainy summer.

Alstroemerias

Also known as Peruvian lily, alstroemerias will bloom from summer up to the first frosts. Keep deadheading them to help prolong flowering by pulling off flowers that have gone over.

Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums, also known as 'mums', are admired for their cheery blooms. Typically, they flower from late-summer to November, but you can also grow them from plugs in September, in a cool greenhouse. This should provide blooms that last from November to Christmas.

Saxifraga fortunei

This starry perennial is perfect for brightening up dark days. Cultivars include 'Silver Velvet', 'Black Ruby' and 'Two Kings'. Grow in moist, well-drained soil in partial or full shade.

Evergreens for late-autumn interest

• • Holly
  • Fatsia
  • English ivy
  • Mahonia
  • Evergreen ferns
  • Rosemary
  • Bay
  • Ophiopogon planiscapus