Autumn in Bloom

When the garden starts to feel a little tired after summer, bedding plants are the quickest way to bring it back to life. Tucked into empty spaces in the border, planted in bold sweeps in garden beds, or allowed to spill over the edges of containers, these cheerful annuals deliver instant seasonal colour. And the good news is that nurseries and garden centres around the country are full of beautiful options ready for planting now.

For this feature, Michal Scholtz of Moorland Seedlings in Thornhill in the Eastern Cape shares four top performers for autumn colour. His focus on quality plant production, consistency and innovation has helped strengthen the ornamental division since it was added to the business in 2019.

Gazanias: bold colour for hot, sunny spots

If you love bright, cheerful flowers and want something fuss-free, gazanias are hard to beat. These local sun-lovers are known for their striking daisy flowers in vivid shades and dramatic patterns. In full sun, the blooms open wide to show off their extraordinary markings, while on cloudy days and at night they close up again.

Gazanias thrive in hot, dry conditions and cope well with poor soils, making them a reliable choice for water-wise gardens, sunny borders and containers. For gardeners looking for maximum impact with minimal effort, they are a standout choice.

Best varieties to look for:

‘Kiss’, ‘New Day’ and ‘Gazoo’ offer spectacular colour combinations.

How to grow gazanias successfully:

• Plant in a position that receives 6 to 8 hours of sun a day.
• Use sandy, well-draining soil enriched with compost at planting.
• Water regularly at first while plants establish, then only water when the soil is dry.
• Feed lightly at planting to encourage strong growth.
• Remove spent flowers often to keep plants neat and blooming.
• In colder regions, grow them in containers that can be moved if heavy frost is expected. They tolerate light frost.

Bidens: easy-going plants that attract pollinators

Bidens are one of those happy, free-flowering plants that seem to brighten everything around them. Their golden, daisy-like blooms are perfect for filling gaps in beds and borders, and the compact varieties also look beautiful in pots and hanging baskets.

These sun-loving annuals grow to around 30 cm tall, making them especially useful where you need a low mound of colour through the cooler months. Another bonus is that bidens are excellent for attracting pollinators into the garden.

Best varieties to look for:

Choose ‘Bee Meadow’ and ‘Blazing’ for yellow and orange shades, or ‘Pretty in Pink’ for something softer and a little different.

How to grow bidens successfully:

• Plant in full sun.
• Make sure the soil drains well.
• Water well while young plants establish.
• Once settled, they are heat- and drought-tolerant.
• Deadhead regularly to keep flowers coming.

Antirrhinums: classic favourites for beds and bouquets

Antirrhinums, or snapdragons, have long been loved for their bright flower spikes and cottage-garden charm. Available in both tall and compact forms, they are ideal for adding vertical interest and rich seasonal colour to beds, borders and containers. They are also excellent cut flowers, so you can enjoy them indoors too.

These hardy annuals perform best in the cooler months of spring and autumn, making them a superb choice for gardens needing a fresh lift as temperatures begin to ease.

Best varieties to look for:

‘Snaptini’ is a dwarf variety reaching 15–20 cm, ‘Snappy’ grows to 20–25 cm, ‘Floral Showers’ and ‘Snapshot’ stay between 15–30 cm, and ‘Twinny’ reaches about 25–30 cm. This group offers a wide range of flower colours.

How to grow antirrhinums successfully:

• Plant in full sun for the best flowering.
• Improve the soil with plenty of organic matter before planting.
• Water regularly to keep the soil moist but never soggy.
• Apply mulch to help hold moisture in the soil.
• Feed every couple of weeks with a liquid plant food once buds appear.
• Stake taller varieties if needed.

Lobularia: sweetly scented and full of charm

Lobularia, often called sweet alyssum, is one of the loveliest filler plants for autumn beds, pathways and containers. It forms a soft, low-growing mound covered in masses of tiny fragrant flowers in white, pink and purple tones. It is easy to grow, flowers for months, and is especially attractive to pollinators such as bees.

Because of its gentle spreading habit and long flowering season, lobularia works beautifully at the front of borders, tucked between other annuals, or trailing from containers where its perfume can be appreciated up close. This variety flowers from spring right through autumn.

Best varieties to look for:

‘Easy Breezy’ and ‘Stream’ are available in shades ranging from pure white to pink and purple combinations.

How to grow lobularia successfully:

• Plant in full sun or partial shade.
• Use rich, well-draining soil with compost added at planting time.
• Water consistently but avoid waterlogging.
• Deadhead spent flowers and feed with a low-nitrogen liquid fertiliser to encourage reblooming.

Bring fresh life to your autumn garden

A few trays of bedding plants can completely change the mood of a garden. Whether you prefer the bold, sun-loving brilliance of gazanias, the pollinator-friendly charm of bidens, the classic appeal of antirrhinums, or the fragrant softness of lobularia, there is an autumn annual to suit every space.

Plant them now, keep up with watering while they settle in, and you’ll be rewarded with weeks of colour just when the garden needs it most.

Visit your local nursery to find these plants and get expert advice for your garden.