Don't let your garden go bare this winter: 5 plants to plant this October

With summer blooms fading, Hillier reveals five plants to put in the ground this October for colour, structure and interest through winter and into spring.  

As summer flowers fade and gardeners begin clearing borders, it can be tempting to think the garden has little to offer until spring. But October is an ideal opportunity to fill gaps with plants that provide colour and structure throughout winter – while getting a head start on next year's display.  

From jewel-coloured winter blooms to evergreen foliage and spring bulbs, there are plenty of plants that can transform the garden into a space that continues to offer interest long after summer has ended. Charlotte McGrattan, Hardy Nursery Stock Buyer from Hillier shares five plants to plant now for a garden that looks good through the colder months and beyond.  

1. Winter heath 

For flowers when the garden needs them most. 

Winter heath is a reliable way to introduce colour during the darker months, producing delicate flowers when many other plants have gone dormant. Available in shades ranging from white and pink to rich purple, winter-flowering heaths are ideal for brightening borders, rockeries and containers. Their low-growing habit also makes them useful for filling gaps at the front of a border.  

2. Skimmia 

For evergreen structure and colourful seasonal interest.  

With glossy evergreen foliage, Skimmia provides year-round structure and is particularly valuable in winter when deciduous plants have lost their leaves. Its clusters of colourful buds bring seasonal interest, with flowers following in spring. Compact and shade tolerant, Skimmia is a versatile choice for borders and containers, particularly in sheltered spots.  

3. Viburnum tinus 

For months of flowers, buds and foliage.  

For a plant that keeps giving through the colder seasons, Viburnum tinus is hard to beat. Its dense evergreen foliage provides structure throughout the year, while clusters of buds and delicate flowers offer interest over the winter and into spring. It is an excellent choice for adding height and substance, while also helping to keep the garden looking full when other plants are dormant.  

4. Hellebores 

For the promise of colour as winter turns towards spring.  

Hellebores are a favourite for the transition between winter and spring, with their nodding flowers appearing when there is still little colour elsewhere in the garden. Their attractive foliage provides structure beyond the flowering period, making them a useful addition to borders and containers. Planting hellebores in autumn gives them time to establish before they put on their seasonal display.  

5. Tulips 

For planting now and enjoying next spring.  

While tulips won't provide immediate winter colour, autumn is the perfect time to plant their bulbs in anticipation of a spectacular spring display. Planting now allows bulbs to establish roots before the ground becomes cold, ready to burst into colour when spring arrives. For a longer-lasting display, combine different varieties and flowering times, planting bulbs among existing perennials and evergreen plants.  

“October is an often-overlooked opportunity to give your garden a head start,” explains Charlotte McGrattan, Hardy Nursery Stock Buyer from Hillier. “Rather than thinking of autumn as the end of the gardening year, it's a chance to look ahead and introduce plants that will provide interest through winter and into spring. A few carefully chosen evergreens, winter-flowering plants and bulbs can make a real difference to how a garden looks and feels during the colder months.”  

Hillier's top October planting tips  

• Don't clear everything away – seedheads and grasses can provide valuable winter structure and bring texture and movement to borders. 
• Fill gaps now rather than waiting until spring. Autumn planting gives many plants time to establish their roots before the growing season begins. 
• Combine evergreen plants with flowering plants so the garden doesn't rely on one short burst of colour. Evergreens can provide a dependable backdrop while seasonal flowers add highlights. 
• Plant with the months ahead in mind, choosing something for winter, late winter and spring to create a garden that changes and develops throughout the season. 
• Water newly planted specimens, particularly if autumn remains dry, so they can establish well before winter. 

For further information about Hillier, visit www.hillier.co.uk.  

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Editors notes

“To inspire the creation of green living spaces for now and the future” Hillier is one of the leading names in the horticultural industry, with 160 years of growing and retail experience.

Founded in 1864 by Edwin Hillier, the company remains a family-run nursery with the fifth generation now actively involved in the family business as it continues to grow.

Not only is Hillier the largest producer of semi-mature trees in Europe and grower of over one million plants at its Hampshire nursery, but it also employs over 750 staff across its nursery, amenity trees and 22 garden centre divisions and is a flourishing multi-million pound company. It proudly holds the world record for the most consecutive gold medals awards at the world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with 74 wins.

As one of the leading growers in the UK, Hillier is involved in many peat-free initiatives, including the RHS Peat-Free Fellowship, the largest peat-free collaborative research project globally. The company was amongst the first nurseries to become 100% peat-free across both its production nursery and retail garden centres, and all Hillier plants are grown in peat-free compost.

Recent successes for the company include the launch of its online shop, the substantial redevelopment of Hillier Garden Centre Newbury and the acquisition of the Rosebourne Garden Centre Group in November 2022, as well as sponsorship of BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair, and the incredibly popular free ‘Hillier Gardening Club’ loyalty program which now has over half a million members.

Renowned for being a leading breeder of plants in the UK at its 100% peat-free nursery in Hampshire, each year Hillier introduces amazing new varieties. Many of these have become essentials in British gardens and the company continues with the tradition of innovation and the introduction of new garden plants in the present day.