When summer blooms start to fade and the weather cools, fall flowers are a vibrant way to keep your garden lively. While colorful fall foliage on trees is a classic autumn sight, adding hardy annuals, perennials, and flowering shrubs can give your garden that extra pop. Fall flowers offer a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, making them perfect for any garden style. And if you love container gardening, there are plenty of fall flowers you can grow in pots on your front porch. By choosing the right flowers, you can enjoy blooms throughout the fall until winter’s first frost.
Mums, sunflowers, hydrangeas, dahlias, violas, and black-eyed Susans are some of the most popular fall flowers, but there are plenty of other options to explore. Here’s a list of 10 fall flowers that will keep your garden vibrant well into autumn.
1. Mums (Chrysanthemum spp.)
When choosing mums, pick ones that aren’t fully bloomed yet. This helps them settle in better and handle the move with less stress. Magnificent mums from @ naomisladegardening
Chrysanthemums, or mums, are the perfect flowers for fall. They start blooming in September and keep going until the frost hits. Mums come in many colors and shapes, from bright yellows and oranges to soft whites and purples, so you can find the right fit for your garden.
Keep the soil moist but not soggy, as too much water can hurt their roots. Mums need plenty of sunlight to bloom well, and they prefer rich, well-drained soil. They’re hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 9, making them a great choice for various climates. With proper care, they’ll brighten up your garden from late summer through mid-fall.
2. Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
With their daisy-like blooms in yellow or orange, they bring a cheerful touch to your garden. While they’re often grown as annuals, they may self-seed and return the following year. Marigold from @ higetch5405
These vibrant flowers begin to bloom in late spring or early summer. If you keep up with deadheading—removing the spent blooms—they can continue to flower through fall, though they might slow down a bit during the peak heat of summer.
Suitable for USDA Zones 2 to 11, these flowers thrive in both full and partial sun. They prefer average, well-drained soil. With proper care, they’ll keep your garden colorful from late spring until the first frost.
3. Red Salvia (Salvia splenden)
These vibrant blooms can last from June all the way to the first frost in fall. For those in cooler climates, you can pot these plants in the fall and bring them indoors to overwinter. Beautiful scarlet sage from @ plantarialove
Known as scarlet sage, this flower is a tender perennial that’s often treated as an annual outside its hardiness zones. It features bright red flowers that grow in clusters on tall stems, reaching about 2 inches in length.
They thrive in USDA Zones 10 to 11 and do well in both full and partial sun. They prefer moist, well-drained soil. With the right care, scarlet sage will add a splash of red to your garden throughout the summer and fall.
4. Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Alyssum spreads out with mounds of gray-green foliage and small, four-petal flowers that are sweet-scented. White knight from @ dallasarbplanttrials
These flowers typically start blooming in the spring. However, the plant may slow down during the hot summer months. At this time, it’s helpful to cut it back by half. As cooler fall temperatures return, alyssum often rebounds and may bloom again. You can also plant seeds in August to enjoy fall flowers.
Suitable for USDA Zones 5 to 9, alyssum does well in both full and partial sun and prefers average, well-drained soil. With the right care, it’ll keep your garden looking lovely from late spring through fall.
5. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp)
Nasturtiums are generally low-maintenance and thrive with regular watering, especially during dry periods. Nasturtiums from @ maryjonesvintage
These plants come in various shapes, such as bushy, climbing, or trailing, and they can be either annuals or perennials. They typically feature bright, colorful flowers and usually bloom from May to September, although timing can vary based on species and climate.
Suitable for USDA Zones 2 to 11, they prefer full sun and moist, well-drained soil. They come in a range of colors including red, orange, pink, yellow, and cream, and they’ll keep your garden colorful from early summer through early fall.
6. Violet (Viola spp.)
The Viola genus includes hundreds of species, with many referring to low-growing, mounding plants that spread easily in gardens. Viola spp from @ wildflowerherbsschool
While they might struggle during the summer heat, these plants often bounce back and bloom beautifully in the fall with their eye-catching five-petal flowers. To boost their fall bloom, applying a slow-release fertilizer in late summer is beneficial.
These plants thrive in USDA Zones 3 to 8 and need full sun. They prefer rich, moist, well-drained soil. You’ll find them in colors like blue, purple, and white, providing vibrant blooms from late spring until the first frost.
7. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
Snapdragons, which can be grown as either annuals or tender perennials, are known for their unique tubular flowers that resemble a dragon’s head. Chantilly snapdragons from @ homesteaddesigncollective
Snapdragons bloom from early spring through to the fall frost in cooler climates. In hotter regions, they might slow down during the peak summer heat but will often revive and bloom again when the weather cools down.
Suitable for USDA Zones 7 to 10, snapdragons prefer full sun and thrive in rich, moist, well-drained soil. They come in a variety of colors including white, yellow, red, orange, pink, and purple, adding vibrant touches to your garden from spring until the first frost.
8. Cockscomb (Celosia argentea)
They thrive in USDA Zones 2 to 11 and prefer full sun and moist, well-drained soil. With their stunning colors and unique texture, cockscomb will brighten your garden from mid-summer through the fall frost. Summer flower from @ fatcowstudio
Cockscomb flowers stand out with their feathery, vibrant heads in shades like bright yellow, warm orange, scarlet red, and deep burgundy or purple—perfect for adding fabulous fall color to your garden. These annuals grow 4 to 10 inches tall, featuring densely packed blooms on sturdy stems. For an earlier bloom, you can start seeds indoors about six to eight weeks before your area’s last frost date in spring.
9. New England Asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
These flowers can be planted any time from spring through fall and often self-seed if you leave the spent flowers on the plant. For a neater look, you can cut the plants back to the ground. Purple dome from @ selina_mendez_designs
New England asters bring a splash of vivid color to your garden in the fall with their eye-catching flowers. These blooms have a daisy-like shape and can be nearly 2 inches across, featuring pink to purple petals that radiate from bright golden centers.
They thrive in USDA Zones 4 to 8, prefer full sun, and do well in average, well-drained soil. Expect these asters to brighten your garden from late summer through early fall.
10. Nippon Daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum)
These flowers are great for cut arrangements and can last a long time. The nippon daisy from @ pernasplantandflower
The Nippon daisy, or Montauk daisy, showcases white petals with green centers on long stems, with blooms reaching about 2 to 3 inches across. To keep them blooming, remember to deadhead the spent flowers. For best results, plant them in early spring or fall.
They grow well in USDA Zones 5 to 9, prefer full sun, and thrive in average, well-drained soil. Expect these daisies to brighten your garden from late summer through early fall.
