Hello again! We are Ross & Ian – The Fixer Upper’s, known on Instagram for our house and garden renovations. We are currently embarking on our second renovation of a Victorian House and Garden in Hampshire and working with Hillier to bring our garden ideas to life!
Catch up with us on Instagram @ross_and_ian (https://www.instagram.com/ross_and_ian/)
October is the second month of autumn, and with it comes pumpkins, spices, and Halloween. It is also a perfect time to get out into the garden before the winter months and ensure plenty of spring interest. However, before spring, we need to ensure we have lots of character in our borders in the autumn, through the winter and beyond. We have picked some of our favourites from Hillier this autumn for you to choose from and broken them into small groups, so you pick one of each to bring all these plants together in your garden to have everlasting colour, texture, and structure.
Founded in 1864 by plantsman Edwin Hillier, the company remains family-run with the fifth generation now actively involved in the family business, looking to inspire the creation of green living spaces for now and the future. Through the Hillier plant nursery situated in Hampshire, over one million plants are grown each year!
Over the years, Hillier has been, and continues today, to be responsible for numerous plant introductions, many of which have become essentials in British gardens. Along with the tradition of innovation through plant introductions, Hillier is also the most successful exhibitor in the history of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, having been awarded 74 consecutive gold medals.
All year interest
Dianella tasmanica Destiny
Dianella tasmanica Destiny works wonderfully when planted in containers or as part of a border or bed in a cottage or courtyard garden. This beautiful evergreen produces sword-shaped, variegated leaves with white borders. This low-maintenance option should be planted in full sun or partial shade for best results.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 0.5m x 0.5m | No pruning required | Moist, well-drained | Full sun – partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Euonymus japonicus Paloma Blanca
Also known as Japanese spindle, Euonymus japonicus Paloma Blanca features oval leaves of deep green that progress into an interesting cream effect during the spring months. They are happy when placed in any aspect of the garden, making them very versatile, and are drought resistant for those warm occasions.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 1m x 1m | Prune damaged or diseased shoots when required | Moist and well-drained | Full sun/partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Euonymus japonicus ‘Susan’
Another great Euonymus, but with a different colour and effect. The leaves are narrow in form with a green centre and white border and create an upright habit. This dwarf shrub is great for city and coastal gardens, producing green flowers in the summer for added interest.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 1m x 1m | Prune damaged or diseased shoots when required | Moist and well-drained | Full sun, partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Heuchera ‘Cherry Cola’
Heucheras have been a favourite choice of ours this year, and here is another showstopper for the garden. It will give you year-round interest with its bright burgundy-red leaves and vibrant red flowers that appear in the late spring. Heuchera ‘Coca Cola’ is hardy throughout the UK and is suitable for ground cover and planting alongside roses.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 0.5m x 0.5m | Divide for enhanced growth | Moist and well drained | Full sun/partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Phormium ‘Jester’
We love the colours on the beautiful spiked leaves, and they will look best in the autumn, mixed with all the other apricot, red, and orange colours. Phormium ‘Jester’ produces unique red flowers in the summer and works great when incorporated into an architectural setting.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 1.5m x 1.5m | Prune damaged or diseased shoots when required | Moist and well-drained | Full sun/ partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Autumn interest
Berberis thunbergii Harlequin
Berberis thunbergii Harlequin is a unique and interesting shrub that features purple, cream, and pink leaves and yellow flowers in the spring. During autumn, red fruit appears on this deciduous plant, meaning it sits pretty in a cottage style garden.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 1m x 1m | Prune damaged or diseased shoots when required | Moist and well-drained | Full sun to partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Coprosma repens ‘Pacific Dawn’
Known as the looking-glass plant ‘Pacific Dawn’, this evergreen shrub is a fantastic addition to any garden. With purple-bronze green leaves in spring that transform into purple-red in autumn, they are a fantastic focal point for conservatories or greenhouses.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 1.5m x 1.5m | Prune damaged or diseased shoots when required | Moist and well-drained | Full sun | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Dryopteris wallichiana Jurassic Gold
Dryopteris wallichiana Jurassic Gold is a deciduous fern that is hardy throughout most of the UK. They are relatively easy to grow and will produce pink-tinted divided leaves that will change to a wonderful gold colour throughout spring and summer.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 1m x 1m | Prune damaged or diseased shoots when required | Moist, well-drained | Full shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Autumn/spring interest
Cercis canadensis ‘Eternal Flame’
Hillier grown, Chelsea Flower Show winning plant, ‘Cercis canadensis Eternal Flame’, is a must for all gardens. This deciduous shrub produces fiery colours of red, orange, and yellow on heart-shaped leaves across each stem. This creates a transitional effect of sizzling colour across the whole plant.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 1.5m x 2m | Prune damaged or diseased shoots when required | Moist, well-drained | Full sun/partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’
Another wonderful variety with deep red-purple progressing into orange shades, followed by bronze and red-purple in autumn. Small, bright-pink flowers appear in clusters on bare stems before the leaves in spring. The leaves are heart-shaped for additional interest.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 8m x 8m | Very little light pruning required | Well-drained | Full sun/partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’
We adore Cornus, and at this time of year, they are coming into their own. Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’, also known as red-barked dogwood, produces small cream-white flowers in the spring and summer, followed by white berries in the autumn. The foliage of deep red and white-margined ellipsoid grey-green leaves adds to the attention.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 4m x 4m | Prune hard in spring for vigorous growth | Moist and well-drained | Full sun/ partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Cornus sanguinea ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’
We adore Cornus, and at this time of year, they are coming into their own. Cornus sanuienea ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’ creates a stunning winter colour of orange and red and makes a fiery appearance in a cold garden. This deciduous shrub works wonderfully in wildlife and wildflower meadow gardens.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 2.5m x 2.5m | Prune hard in spring for vigorous growth | Moist – well drained | Full sun/ partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Winter/spring interest
Hellebores are perennials that enjoy dappled shade (this is why they grow well in woodland areas). Many varieties have bold evergreen leaves and these hardy plants bloom in winter and early spring, when little else is in its prime, so if you are looking to add winter colour to your borders, then these are the plants for you.
Helleborus ballardiae HGC Cinnamon Snow
‘Cinnamon Snow’ is the ideal perennial to enhance your winter garden. The foliage is deep green and leathery in appearance, while white-pink flowers bloom during the winter and spring. Ensure that this hellebore is sheltered from adverse weather and mulched come September-October.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 0.5m x 0.5cm | Prune damaged or diseased shoots when required | Moist and well-drained | Partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Helleborus ericsmithii HGC Shooting Star
Similarly to ‘Cinnamon Snow’, ‘Shooting Star’ also features leathery leaves, but they also feature silvery highlights. The flowers of this hellebore are unique in their colouration, blooming pink and green or cream-white and pink throughout the year.
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 0.5m x 0.5m | Prune damaged or diseased shoots when required | Moist, well-drained soil | Full sun/ partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Helleborus HGC Ice N’ Roses Dark Picotee
Flowering in December, with cream-white blooms with a purple margin that bleeds into the middle of the petals. This hellebore has mid-green-purple stems and an interesting light green centre. It works well when planted with both Heuchera and Narcissus.
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 0.3m x 0.4m | Prune damaged or diseased shoots when required | Moist, well-drained | Full sun/ partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Helleborus HGC Ice N’ Roses Red
This attractive perennial produces outward-facing dark red flowers with cream centres that will bloom throughout winter until around mid-April. This hellebore is great for patio and container plantings as well as flower beds. The dark foliage also works great for highlighting other plantings.
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 0.5m x 0.5m | Prune damaged or diseased shoots when required | Moist, well-drained | Full sun/ partial shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Spring interest
Camellia japonica Dahlonega
Also known as ‘Golden Anniversary’ Camellia japonica Dhalonega is a medium-sized, compact, evergreen plant with double flowers of cream-white and light yellow. It has an upright habit and is a relatively low-maintenance addition to a spring garden. This is an excellent choice for the smaller garden or in a container placed in a patio area.
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 2m x 1.75m | Prune damaged or diseased shoots when required | Moist, well-drained | Dappled shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Camellia japonica Dazzling Pink
This variety of Japanese Camellia brings excitement to the garden, both from its profusion of candy pink flowers (as highlighted in its name) in the spring, and from its variegated green and white leaves. As a hardy evergreen, it looks great in spring borders and beds.
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 2m x 1.5m | Prune damaged or diseased shoots when required | Moist, well-drained | Dappled shade | Water regularly until well-established and through warm, dry periods |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
About Ross & Ian
Ross and Ian met in June 2014 and purchased their first property together in August 2016, a 1930’s semi-detached house in Berkshire which was in need of being ‘fixed up’. The house has been rented out for 19 years so was in need of some serious TLC, a lot of the original features were moved (including fireplaces and internal doors) which meant the house had lost its charm and character and this was something Ross and Ian wanted to add back to the house.
So with an exciting renovation challenge ahead, Ross and Ian decided to document their journey through Instagram as a way of looking back on all the things they would go on to achieve as well as share updates with friends and family, and so, ‘Our 1930s Fixer Upper’ was created.
Fast forward to 2022 and now with an audience of over 100,000 followers, Ross and Ian have sold their 1930s home and have moved into a new Victorian ‘fixer upper’, that is once again in desperate need of being brought back to its former glory.
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