Cyclamen-hederifolium

Our favourite November plants

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 26 October 2022 at 1:47 pm

Discover plants that are looking glorious this month, chosen by the Gardeners' World team and our friends in the gardening world.

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There's plenty of colour to be admired throughout the garden this month, whether it be the stunning hues of grasses, the striking bark of a tree or vibrant berries and flowers. Here, we share our favourites to add colour and interest, as winter approaches. There's something for every space, whether growing cyclamen in pots or swathes of grasses in your borders. Our choices include recommendations from the Gardeners' World team and across the gardening industry.

Find more November inspiration:

Plants for beautiful November pots
Autumn flowering bulbs for November
Shrubs that look good in November

Eriocephalus africanus

An aromatic, evergreen shrub which produces fluffy white seed heads. Getty Images

Chosen by Frances Tophill, Gardeners' World presenter

Also known as the kapok bush, this succulent, tender, silvery and aromatic shrub is so unusual and lovely. Growing it in a container means it can be brought in for protection over winter, when it also bears little white flowers with an aubergine centre.

Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'

Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal' looks spectacular in the low sun at this time of the year

Chosen by Flo Headlam, Garden Rescue presenter

If you want a well behaved grass, choose 'Heavy Metal'. Clump forming, it looks good during the summer with beautiful seed heads, but it's the honey coloured winter profile, catching the low sun, that excites me most.

How to grow ornamental grasses

Liriope muscari

Black berries follow the purple flowers of this evergreen perennial

Chosen by Kevin Smith, BBC Gardeners' World Deputy Editor

A no-fuss plant that’s happy in a bit of shade, which is always a bonus. The strappy evergreen leaves provide year-round interest, but it’s the flowers of Liriope muscari which I really love – they’re always a surprise with rich purple being a real contrast to the usual autumnal shades of the season.

How to grow lily turf

Hylotelephium spectabile

A herbaceous perennial, also known as ice plant, sedums are loved by bees

Chosen by Catherine Mansley, GardenersWorld.com deputy editor

In the height of summer, I find sedums underwhelming. But come autumn, when everything around them has faded, their long-lasting flowers add such welcome colour to borders. And as a bonus, the flower heads can be left to add structure through the winter.

How to grow sedums

Cynara cardunculus

Also known as the artichoke thistle, these thistle-like flowers make a statement in autumn borders

Chosen by Oliver Parsons, Gardeners' World Magazine sub editor

The huge, architectural flower stems of the cardoon are real winners silhouetted against the sky on cold, bright autumn days – lots of drama when everything else in the garden is headed for bed. Just be sure to cut off any brown, faded foliage, which will otherwise spoil the show.

Calamagrostis brachytricha

Known as Korean feather reed grass, this plant will grow to around 1.5m

Chosen by Sarah Edwards, Gardeners' World Magazine picture editor

As the seasons change, Calamagrostis brachytricha is so graceful. It's light, feathery, purple tinged flowers billow in the autumn winds and last well into winter, adding structure and interest to any garden.

Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’

Vibrant purple berries make a statement on this deciduous shrub

Chosen by Angelica Wilson, BBC Gardener's World magazine digital marketing & commerce executive

This deciduous shrub always stops me in my tracks on an autumn walk. Aptly known as beauty berry, it bears pretty pink flowers in midsummer, but it's in autumn and winter when it’s at its most striking. Unexpected clusters of shiny, bright-purple berries smother its branches, which in November often still hold green-purple foliage, contrasting beautifully with the berries.

How to grow callicarpa

Prunus serrula

Also known as the Tibetan cherry, a great choice to add winter drama to your garden

Chosen by Adam Duxbury, BBC Gardener's World features editor

When much is dull and quiet in my garden this month, I love gazing out at the peeling bark of this multi-stemmed ornamental cherry. I’ve planted mine so that it can be admired from inside as it catches flashes of low winter sun, making it glow shades of copper, scarlet and the deepest crimson.

Cyclamen hederifolium

Known as the ivy-leaved cyclamen, perfect for adding interest to pots

Chosen by Lily Middleton, Gardenersworld.com content creator

I'm a big fan of cyclamen – on my small balcony I dedicate a slightly excessive amount of pots to these hardy stars. The foliage is beautiful with silver-lined, dark green leaves, and the flowers are delicate yet remarkably long-lasting.

Best winter plants for pots

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