Sedum flowers are now turning a rich wine colour, striking a wonderful deep note among the more shrill yellows of the season. The plant lends solidity as well as colour to a border or a flower bed. It’s generally known as sedum, although it is also commonly called the “ice plant” because of its grey-green waxy foliage that has a vaguely icy look to it.

This flower has an extremely long season of interest. It starts with broad buds at ground level in early spring and these expand to produce shoots with fleshy leaves. In summer, the flower heads expand and the buds begin to slowly change colour to pale pink and then bright pink when the tiny, individual, star-shaped flowers open up on their broad, flat heads.

The leaves are thick and fleshy, like a succulent plant, although strangely for such a waxy and fleshy plant it does not cope well in dry soil.

The flowering stems are about 40cm tall, or a bit more in rich ground. As soon as the flowers open in the summer, insects begin to visit, especially butterflies. Sedum is one of the best butterfly plants, especially on a warm sunny day when the butterflies are more active.

As flowering progresses, the flowers deepen in colour and by the time the tiny seed pods form in autumn, the flower head colour is deep wine-red.

As autumn progresses, the leaves change colour to shades of soft yellow and then are finally shed. The bare stems harden and dry out. The seed heads also dry out to an attractive shade of deep coffee-brown.

The deep brown colour, and the shape of the seed heads, is a great addition to the range of late-autumn and winter seed heads and withered stems in a border. The dried out stems are robust and last well into late winter, and even into spring of the following year.

When they finally get too shabby, they can be cut to the ground and the cycle of growth begins again. While one plant on its own is good, the ice plant is most effective if it is used in a few places near the front of a border, each placement echoing the other visually and reinforcing the smouldering look.

There are several named varieties of the ice plant, Sedum spectabile, with varied flower colours.

Herbstfreude (Autumn Joy) has deep pink flowers that turn red-brown.

A shorter form, Carl, might suit small spaces better. Brilliant has bright pink-purple flowers. Carmen is a darker mauve-pink, while September Glut (September Glow) has rich pink flowers deepening to rich burgundy. Purple Emperor has purple-flushed leaves and pink flowers. This is actually a different species, but quite similar in appearance, except that the flower head is more branched and looser in look.

Other purple-leaved forms include Atropurpureum and Matrona, the latter a very pretty flower. The two kinds associate well with other autumn flowers and leaf colour.

In autumn, sedum is a perfect companion for grasses as they begin to colour and become more straw-like. In the photograph, we can see ponytail grass and broad canna leaves planted with sedum. It also looks well with other autumn flowers, such as rudbeckia and helianthus. Sedum is usually planted at the front of a border, where the flowers can be seen against the taller plants and to allow viewing of the butterflies.

All kinds are easy to grow in any good ordinary soil, well-drained and not too rich, in full sunshine.

Heavy soil or very fertile soil tends to make the plants too tall and the clump of stems may flop open in the middle, leaving a ring of flower heads around an empty centre. This does not do the plant justice.

Sedum can be planted at any time from pots and now is a good time to plant.

Prune raspberries

Some raspberry plants had a few late berries this year. This sometimes happens in a good growing season and it is worth waiting for these to ripen. They are usually carried on low shoots.

This late fruit is likely to have ripened and be picked by now, so the normal pruning can go ahead. If there was no late fruit to wait for, this annual pruning can be carried out immediately after the main crop in July or August.

The old shoots, brown or greyish in colour, are pruned out in favour of the new pale green-skinned shoots – these will carry next year’s crop. After pruning, tie the new shoots to wires using soft garden string and clear away all weeds that are within 50cm of the raspberry stems.

Flowers and containers

Plant all kinds of spring bulbs as soon as possible. In hanging baskets and other containers, replace the summer plants with some plants for winter and spring, including bulbs. Begin dividing perennial flowers or planting new plants. Seeds of annual flowers sown earlier might need to be weeded now.

Trees, shrubs and roses

Plant evergreens of all kinds, either from pots or as root-balled plants. All kinds of pot-grown trees and shrubs can be planted too. Check that young trees are securely staked if they need it – wind-rocking can seriously damage, and even kill, young trees that are not yet wind-firm. Prune rambler roses.

Fruit, vegetables and herbs

Plant spring cabbage plants without delay. Remove old vegetables as soon as they are finished and do not allow weeds to build up. Lift and store potatoes and carrots now for winter use. Parsnips generally keep better when left in the ground. Prune raspberries, blackcurrants and gooseberries.

Lawns

Use moss killer now if necessary, particularly in shaded areas. Continue mowing and use an autumn lawn fertilizer, unless growth has stopped or the ground is too wet. There is still time to sow a new lawn, or to over-sow damaged patches, but conditions will not be as good in the coming weeks.

Greenhouse and house plants

Pick tomatoes as they continue to ripen, or if the plants have lost leaves. Pick the last few green ones to ripen off the vine. Keep the greenhouse tidy and ventilated. Do not overwater or splash water about, to reduce the risk of grey mould disease. Clean the glass to remove algae and improve light.