20 Best Fall Flowers That Look Beautiful in Pots and Containers
These blooms will add a burst of color to your porch or patio.
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It might seem too soon to start looking ahead to the first day of fall, but gardeners know the importance of planting (er, planning?) ahead. Without further ado, there are plenty of flowers that make for beautiful fall porch décor and bloom all season long. This guide to the best fall flowers for pots and containers will add bright accents to your next autumnal landscape, whether that includes carved pumpkins for Halloween or corn stalk décor for the harvest.
What are the best fall flowers? Many flowers grow well in containers—as long as those containers have adequate drainage holes and are large enough to accommodate the plant's root system. You can stick to just one flower variety per pot or follow the popular "thriller, filler, and spiller" approach by combining a tall, eye-catching flower with a shorter bloom and a trailing bloom (just make sure flowers planted in the same pot have similar requirements for soil, light, and watering).
You'll also want to think about how the flowers will look with the rest of your outdoor fall decorations. For a classic autumn display, you can't go wrong with planting mums: They're container-friendly, and the orange, red, and yellow hues complement pumpkins and gourds (check out these fun pumpkin decorating ideas for more inspiration). But feel free to mix it up, too. Create a muted look with white and pastel pansies, brighten things up with bold asters, or use succulents and ornamental cabbage for a lush green porch-scape. The combinations are endless! Keep reading for a closer look at the best fall flowers for pots and containers.
Snapdragons
With clusters of pretty, bell shaped flowers, snapdragons are sure to bring a magical touch to your garden. They come in a range of heights and colors including white, yellow, pink, purple, red, and orange so you can mix-and-match to create a potted masterpiece. Though they're cool-weather flowers, they'll need eight or more hours of sun per day.
Zinnias
For an explosion of color in your garden, go for pots of vibrant zinnias. Since they grow quickly and bloom heavily, they're one of the easiest flowers to grow and will last until the first frost. Just be sure to place them in full sun and choose shorter varieties when growing them in containers. Plus, they'll attract butterflies and hummingbirds!
Goldenrod
With fluffy flower spikes in various shades of yellow, it hardly gets more cheerful than a bushel of goldenrod! Because this one will spread vigorously, gardeners often grow it in pots to keep it contained. You'll need to use a container at least 12 inches in diameter with large drainage holes. Place it in full sun.
Salvia
Looking for the perfect season-bridging plant? Look no further! The vibrant blooms of Salvia will carry you from summer straight into fall. When planting, use a container no smaller than eight inches with well-draining soil and make sure it's set in a place that gets six-plus hours of sunlight each day. Oh, and many salvia varieties are drought-tolerant, too.
Dahlias
Known for their dazzling appearance, dahlias are a popular choice in gardens everywhere! To grow them successfully in containers, grab a medium or small variety. Even then, you'll want to place them in a fairly large pot so they can grow happily. Here's another tip: They thrive in well-drained, sunny sites.
Mums
Chrysanthemums are the quintessential fall flower, and they're great candidates for containers. For best results, look for mums that have more buds than open flowers (they'll bloom longer) and repot them right away in a larger container with well-drained soil.
Sweet Alyssums
A flower variety that tolerates cool weather well is Alyssums, which also have a fabulous fragrance. These delicate blooms are perfect for planting along flower beds or paths to create a carpet of color.
Violas
Violas have the prettiest faces! The cute cousin of pansies comes in a wide range of colors, from electric blue to sunshine yellow. These beauties are cool-season bloomers, so planting will depend on your region. They can be planted during spring in cooler climates and will last through the fall, or planted during the fall in warmer climates.
Ornamental Peppers
Okay, perhaps not quite a "flower," but ornamental peppers are just as pretty! Unlike their counterparts, this pepper plant was bred to be admired rather than consumed. They come in red, orange, and yellow, the essential fall hues.
Marigolds
Brighten up your patio or doorstep with these fall-blooming beauties. Certain marigold varieties can grow quite tall, so stick to varieties like French marigolds and Signet marigolds for smaller pots. Leave at least three inches of space between each flower to prevent overcrowding.
Asters
Give your autumn landscape a wildflower look with this hardy perennial, which comes in purple, pink, blue, and white. They're easy to grow in containers and pretty low-maintenance—just be sure to use a pot and soil that drain well to avoid mildew and root rot. Bonus: They attract butterflies and hummingbirds!
Pansies
Pansies are a great choice because they actually thrive in fall and winter. You can plant them from seeds in containers, and they can be kept indoors or outdoors.
Ornamental Cabbage
Ornamental cabbage and kale are more bitter than their edible counterparts, but they're grown for their pretty purple-tinged foliage. These cool-season plants are easy to grow in pots and look great with colorful fall flowers like pansies, mums, or asters.
Million Bells
Million bells (a.k.a. calibrachoa) are a popular choice for pots and hanging baskets because of the attractive way their stems and flowers spill over the sides of their container. They come in a bunch of pretty hues, and they'll bloom until frost with minimal upkeep.
Impatiens
These bright flowers thrive in shady areas and cool weather, which is why they're such a popular choice for fall pots, baskets, and window boxes. Keep in mind that impatiens do need pretty frequent watering, and they should be fertilized regularly, too.
Petunias
While they primarily bloom in summer, petunias can continue blooming into the fall if given proper care. This makes them a great addition to autumn displays. Plan to fertilize and prune these plants regularly to keep them blooming.
Verbena
Verbena plants have a long blooming period that can stretch into the fall with proper care. The trailing clusters of colorful flowers are perfect for hanging baskets.
Helenium
If you're looking for less common but equally beautiful fall blooms, consider planting helenium. These daisy-like flowers come in yellow, orange, and red. They also make excellent cut flowers for indoor arrangements.
Succulents
Succulents are about as low-maintenance as you can get, so they're a great choice for beginners. Combine different shapes, sizes, and hues (as long as they have similar light requirements) to build a beautiful container garden.
Celosia
Celosia is another beautiful yet low-maintenance plant, especially if you grow it in a container. Planting celosia this way will result in a compact cluster of flowers that can bloom into the late fall.
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