Autumn inspiration, Sussex Prairie Garden

Earlier this month we took a visit to Sussex Prairie Gardens in search of some Autumn garden inspiration. 

Nestled in the heart of West Sussex, Sussex Prairie Garden is a magical, 8-acre display of naturalistic planting. Designed by Pauline and Paul McBride, this garden is a haven for plant lovers and wildlife. The Prairie method, known for its sweeping grasses, bold perennials, and natural layout, is not only visually amazing (especially in the early Autumn sunshine) but has the benefit of being low maintenance. Prairie planting also benefits from being drought-tolerant, and brilliant for supporting biodiversity and pollinators. The garden was still bursting with bees and butterflies when we visited in mid-September. 

As we make the shift into a new season, now is the perfect time to take inspiration from this unique Sussex garden and get planting and planning. Read on for 7 easy ways to bring some prairie magic to your garden this Autumn, and in the months ahead.

1. Plant Autumn Perennials for Late Colour 

At Sussex Prairie Garden magical, wood chip pathways cut into deep borders full of Autumn colour. Plants like Echinacea, Aster, and Rudbeckia come into their own this time of year in shades of warm orange, purple, and pinks.  Their long-lasting blooms are loved by bees and butterflies and will keep looking splendid until the first frosts appear. Why not plant a few in your own garden to fill in gaps in beds or pots and keep it looking vibrant into the colder months? 

2. Plan your own cut flower garden

With the arrival of spring-flowering bulbs to many garden centres, now is a great time to plan a small cut flower garden, border or raised bed for next year. At the Sussex Prairie gardens their cut flower garden, located next to the house, is still in bloom with flowers like Helenium, Sedum, Dahlias and Verbena looking fantastic and providing lots of colour for warming indoor displays. 

3. Add Grasses for Texture and Movement 

No prairie garden is complete without ornamental grasses, and Sussex Prairie Gardens is full of varieties like Miscanthus, Stipa, and Panicum. These grasses create movement with the breeze, add texture to borders and bring a lovely sound to your garden. Planting them now ensures they’ll establish before winter, providing height and structure all year round. 

4. Bring Sculpture into your Garden 

Sussex Prairie Garden works with artists to display and sell their work. Sculptures are dotted throughout, adding focal points and lovely surprises. Why not take a leaf out of their book and introduce a sculpture or feature into your own garden? We loved the white-washed wood in the cut flower garden, large metal bison and these striking stone heads. 

5. Plant for Pollinators and Wildlife 

Autumn is a critical time for wildlife, and Sussex Prairie Garden's diverse planting scheme is a haven for birds, bees, and butterflies. Include late-flowering plants like Sedum and Echinops in your garden to provide food for pollinators as the season winds down. Consider leaving seedheads on plants like Echinacea and Sunflowers for birds to feast on during the winter months. Or why not add a bee hotel? We loved the ‘Brutalist’ Solitary Bee Hotels dotted around the gardens, designed by Brighton artist Robert Blackledge and made from recycled and repurposed building materials.  

6. Grow you own 'Potager' patch

Inspired by the French potager tradition, Sussex Prairie Garden has a brilliant vegetable patch that mixes edible and ornamental plants (edimental). Large containers and no dig beds feature autumn vegetables like kale, chard, and leeks mixed with colourful flowers such as nasturtiums, cosmos and marigolds. There is also a selection of fruit trees and bushes in large containers. Autumn is the ideal time to plant a fruit tree while the ground is still warm. If you choose a dwarf variety, you can even grow them in a pot, on your patio or balcony. 

7. Get creative with containers and pots 

There were lots of imaginative (and big!) containers featured in the potager garden, house and cafe, including this recycled trough filled with succulents. Gardening in containers is a creative way to grow lots in a smaller space, on a patio or balcony. Be more sustainable - make containers out of repurposed objects or materials, just remember to drill holes in the bottom for drainage. For more ideas book a ticket to our next Millbrook Growers Talk on Seasonal Container Planting.

Our favourite plants for an Autumn Prairie Garden 

If you’re feeling inspired and ready to dive into autumn planting, here are 8 plants to bring some prairie-style magic to your own garden this season: 

1. Echinacea – Vibrant colours and loved by pollinators. 

2. Ornamental grasses – Adds height, movement, and texture. 

3. Sedum  – Great for late-season colour and attracting bees. 

4. Rudbeckia  – A splash of sunshine with its yellow petals. 

5. Verbena  – A tall, airy plant that draws butterflies. 

6. Asters - myriads of small daisy-like flowers in jewel-like colours. 

7. Dahlias - fantastic in early autumn, with flowers in various colours, shapes and sizes.  

8. Penstemons -  will flower from midsummer well into autumn. Deadhead them regularly, but don't cut them back until Spring. 

Visit Millbrook Garden Centre for all your autumn planting needs, and don’t forget to tag us in your garden transformations on Instagram and Facebook – we’d love to see how you're bringing a prairie garden vibe to your own space! #MillbrookGrowers 

For more information about The Sussex Prairie Garden visit: www.sussexprairies.co.uk.

Where to next?

• Loving Local, Adam's visit to Balfour Winery
• Tammy's tips for peat-free growing
• Tammy's Top 5: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024