We love November

John Keats wrote about the 'seasons of mist and mellow fruitfulness'.

- WORDS JAMES ALEXANDER-SINCLAIR

Such a famous bit of poetry that it has become a bit clichéd. We should try and update it as we drift into November. Perhaps one of you with a poetic leaning could do something with the other things we find precious at this time of year - a new season of Strictly Come Dancing or the first Christmas decorations (mind you, I saw my first Christmas tree this year in mid July). Maybe tins of Quality Street? Or office parties? Think of it as modernising a classic... all contributions welcome.

STAR OF THE MONTH

Rhus typhina Obviously, I love all the plants on these pages, but I am particularly excited by a Rhus at this time of year. Spoilsports will warn you about the suckering habit of this tree but let's ignore them and think instead about the autumn colours.

Truly sensational, but you should not choose this moment to go on holiday as they are only there for the briefest of moments. An explosion of umber, mandarin, rosy apple, heart of bonfire, ochre, buttered crumpet, guardsman's tunic, fox at sunrise and heart of fig. In the circumstances I think we can forgive a bit of suckering.

Needs sunshine for the best autumn colour. Propagate from seed or hardwood cuttings. Not for very small gardens.

Height x Spread 5m x 4m

TANGLED UP IN BLUE

This is a very good, clear and crispy blue – like worn denim at the perfect point when it has lost the darkness of youth, but just before it fades so much that you look a bit like a member of Status Quo in about 1976. It is a welcome show of late colour and, as an added bonus, the leaves turn a complimentary bruised plum colour as the temperature drops.

Take softwood cuttings in spring or (if you miss the window) semiripe in summer. Good scrambling plant for slopes. H x S 50cm x 50cm

KING CRIMSON