Garden flowers in November
Garden flowers in November. Late autumn and November is often the wettest month of the year, which means that we may well spend less time outside in the garden. I think that now it’s even more important to have colour in the garden, to lift our spirits and encourage us to venture out between rain showers.
It is possible to have flowers and colourful berries in your garden all year round. You just need to know which plants to choose to have delightful colour and heavenly scents during the cooler months of the year. For most of us, tender plants will have succumbed to frost by the end of November, but there are still plenty of hardy plants to choose from.
I’ve been sorely lacking in my planning because I have very few of these plants in my garden, so today I’m sharing my wish list for plants that flower or have colourful berries in late autumn.
Hesperantha coccinea
What’s better than a host of colourful stars nodding in the autumn breeze? This plant quickly forms a clump and produces flowers up to 4cm across on stems up to 60cm tall. It is semi-evergreen, so in milder winters will retain the foilage. Grow in any type of soil that is moist, but well-drained. It requires full sun and is best in a south-facing position, sheltered position. That said, it grows very well on our north-facing, but open hillside. Provide it with a sheltered position to protect against chilling winds. Flower colours include scarlet, pinks and white (for the white variety, search for the label that says ‘Alba’}.
Mahonia nitens ‘Cabaret’ (PBR)
Some varieties of Mahonia can become large and look a bit scruffy, not so with Mahonia Nitens ‘Cabaret’, which has an upright and compact growth habit to 150cm in height. This evergreen plant is unfussy about soil type and aspect, but prefers full sun or partial shade in a sheltered spot. It is hardy across most of the UK. The flowers appear from late summer and continue through autumn. The buds are dark orange, almost red and they open into yellow flowers.
Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion Dwarf’
Although this deciduous shrub produces small lilac colour flowers in summer, it is usually grown for the intense magenta to lilac colour, inedible berries that are produced in clusters on the stems during the autumn. ‘Profusion Dwarf’ grows to 150cm and spread, while ‘Profusion’ is 250cm height and spread. The foliage also gives a good colour display over the year. As long as you can provide a well-drained soil, it is unfussy about the soil type or the location and will thrive in full sun and partial shade. Hardy throughout UK, Ireland and northern Europe.
Viola
I used to think that winter-flowering pansies were just for municipal bedding and I turned my nose up that them for being rather old-fashioned. But in recent years, I have changed my mind completely. They are ideal for adding bright splashes of colour in containers and at the front of borders. Winter-flowering pansies usually grow to 20cm height and 15cm spread. A wide range of colours are available and they are hardy across the UK and Ireland through all, but the most severe winters. Grow in full sun or partial shade, any soil that is moist, but well-draining, they are unfussy about position or aspect. Make sure to check that you are buying plants labelled as winter-flowering to ensure you get a great display of colour.
Nerine bowdenii
Commonly called the Guernsey Lily, the flowers are held on stiff stems and the mid-pink petals are curled. They are ideal as garden flowers in November and make a good splash of colour as many other plants are fading. Nerine bowdenii grow to 50cm height and 10cm spread and require full sun and well-draining soil. They are not completely hardy, so need either a sheltered spot or in cooler gardens, grow in pots that can be moved under cover, in either case, a protective mulch over the winter is a good idea.
Euonymus europaeus
Commonly known as spindle or spindle berry, this is a vigorous, deciduous shrub, that can also be grown as a small tree. It reaches up to 300cm in height and spread, and has the added interest of pink or red leaves in autumn. After producing small flowers earlier in the year, during autumn, the inedible fruits provide seasonal interest and colour. The pink, hanging fruits open and display their orange seeds. The colours are so bright in the autumn light that they stand out and call for our attention. Grow in full sun or partial shade, in any soil type, in any position. Fully hardy across UK, Ireland and the rest of northern Europe.
Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca ‘Citrina’
A climbing shrub that we had in our previous home and I’d really like for our current garden. It has cheerful yellow flowers during the coldest months of the year and the lemony floral fragrance that can be detected from several feet away! Usual height 1m, although our plant reached over 1.2m, and 1m spread. The interesting leaves are a blue-grey green and as an evergreen shrub, they provide interest all year round. Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca ‘Citrina’ is unfussy about soil type, but does require full sun and a sheltered position. It is hardy across most of the UK, although may struggle in temperatures below -10C.
Viburnum × bodnantense ‘Dawn’
This eye-catching Viburnum can flower from late autumn right through to spring. It produces pink and white flowers in clusters, on the bare branches. Viburnum × bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is unfussy about soil and situation, and as long as the position is not water-logged, it should thrive. Hardy throughout the UK, its ease of growing makes it a popular choice. Height 150cm – 250cm and spread 100cm – 150cm.
Anemone × hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’
Here’s one that I do have in the garden for flowers in November. A lovely Japanese anemone that has semi-double crisp white flowers with golden stamens at the centre. It is semi-evergreen, meaning that in warmer areas or a mild winter, it may remain in leaf throughout the winter. It is unfussy about soil type or aspect, and prefers moist, but well-drained soil. Hardy throughout UK, Ireland and the rest of northern Europe, ‘Honorine Jobert’ grows to 120cm tall and has an RHS award for garden merit. It is worth noting that it dislikes root disturbance and make fail to thrive if moved. Once firmly established, it has the potential be spread and become a nuisance. In a small garden, it may be better to grow in a large tub or half-barrel. Alternatively, you can remove any sections that have outgrown their allotted space.
More information
The article about garden flowers in November was written for Amateur Gardening magazine and published in November 2025. I have updated some of the specific varieties and images and added further suggestions. Additionally, links are included to help you find the suggested plants.
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