35 Best Fall Flowers and Plants for Autumn Interest
Enjoy a second wave of beauty with a bevy of fall blossoms and ornamental plants.
Fall is almost here, but that doesn't mean consigning yourself to a bare garden. And while, yes, chrysanthemums, those ever-popular fall-blooming flowers, are on our list, there are so many more ways to plan for an autumn show.
To start, many summer bloomers extend their bounty into the early fall season—and even through first frost—such as gomphrena, petunias, dahlias, celosia, and marigolds. Fall-blooming perennials, like goldenrod and autumn joy sedum, add to the mix and will come back year after year to boot (just make sure any perennial you choose can withstand winters in your USDA Hardiness Zone).
Once temperatures begin to cool off, it's time to plant cool-weather lovers for an annual show: sweet alyssum, snapdragons, and pansies (yes, these early spring flowers also bloom well in the fall). We can look beyond flowers for seasonal interest this time of year too. Ornamental grasses, cabbages, and kale catch the eye, while shrubs like chokeberry, sweetspire, and red twig dogwood provide an understory of colorful foliage to complement beautiful fall trees.
Take note: just because summer has passed doesn't mean you can skip out on paying close attention to your plant's watering needs. Fall can still bring some hot, dry days that can be hard on plants if you haven't had enough rain. If you've purchased fall flowers for pots, keep in mind that container plants dry out much faster than those in the ground.
Are you still searching for ways to maximize your garden efforts? Consider investing in some evergreen shrubs to plant this fall (you'll thank us come wintertime). And, while you've got your hands in the dirt, fall is also the ideal time to plant many spring-blooming bulbs, which will give you a jump on the next year's growing season.
Now, for our favorite fall flowers and plants to add interest to autumn gardens.
Gomphrena
This pretty flower, also known as globe amaranth, is native to Mexico, New Mexico, and Texas, but can be enjoyed as an annual elsewhere. It blooms from early summer through first frost, making it an ideal flower to bridge the seasons and accent fall centerpieces. Gomphrena's blooms will bring the butterflies and add lasting beauty to dried arrangements too! Plant in full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11; annual elsewhere
Petunias
Yes, petunias, those stalwarts of spring and summer container gardens and hanging baskets, are ideal fall bloomers as well—that is until the first frost. They love full sun and consistent moisture.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11; annual elsewhere
Autumn Sage
If you're looking for fall blooms for rocky soil or slopes, this plant (scientific name Salvia greggii) is for you. A native to Texas, this shrub-like herbaceous perennial blooms spring through fall and will bring the pollinators to your yard too. Plant in full sun; tolerates afternoon shade.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 9; some varieties like 'Wild Thing' are cold hardy up to zone 6.
Goldenrod
The bright yellow blooms of goldenrod are perfect for a fall color palette. Not to be confused with ragweed, this late-blooming North American perennial wildflower is a magnet for bees. It can bloom from late August to early October (in one of our editors' gardens, it reliably blooms in late September). It's on the taller side and only showy when in bloom, so pair it with a pretty border.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 8
Sweet Alyssum
A sun-loving plant that handle a little shade, sweet alyssum looks amazing tumbling out of outdoor hanging baskets and window boxes or cascading over a wall. Also a spring bloomer, this cool weather-loving plant puts on a repeat performance come autumn and will even survive a light frost. Its flowers come in pure white and shades of pink and purple, with a delicate scent. Did we mention pollinators also adore it?
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11 (short-lived perennial); 5 to 8 (annual)
Snapdragon
Looking for a real showstopper? Snapdragons love cooler autumn temps. If you live where winters are mild, they might even bloom through winter. This short-lived perennial is often treated as an annual, so don't worry about the hardiness zone too much.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 11
Aster
Asters are late bloomers that will help your garden transition from summer to fall without missing a beat. Available in purple, blue, white, and pink, these daisy-like flowers also attract tons of pollinators so you'll enjoy the blooms and their visitors. Plant in full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Autumn Joy Sedum
There are many types of sedums, but this autumn variety is known for its upright form (they can grow up to two feet tall and three feet wide) and bright pink flowers in late summer and early fall. The blooms on this fall perennial last for weeks, and pollinators love them!
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Related: How to Care for Autumn Joy Sedum
Dahlia
These gorgeous flowers come in an array of sizes from tiny buttons and balls to giant dinner plate-sized flowers. In warm climates, leave the bulbs in ground. But in the north, you'll need to dig them up after a hard frost and save the bulbs to replant next spring.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 to 11
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangeas come in many forms, but only the oakleaf variety has bright autumn leaves. Make sure not to prune this shrub in the fall or you will cut off next year's blooms as this plant blooms on what's called "old wood."
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Sunflower
Sunflowers range in size from a few feet to more than 10 feet tall! The key to fall-blooming sunflowers is late summer planting—as long as you live in a place where warm weather extends through September and into early October, that is, because the seeds need about 60 days to flower. In Southern states, such as Louisiana and Mississippi, for example, local extension services recommend sowing seeds in mid-August for fall blooms.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Shrub Rose
Shrub roses, also called landscape roses, are hardy and reliable, and new varieties are more disease resistant. These beauties bloom well all season long, and many types get an especially beautiful flush of blooms in early to mid-autumn.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 10
Celosia
Also called cockscomb, this flame-like flower adds a pop of color to any container or garden bed, summer through fall. Its feathery blooms come in an array of bright colors, including yellow, orange, pink, and red.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11
Burning Bush
This hardy bush turns a brilliant red in fall, earning its name! Plant as part of a mixed border or privacy screen.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Black-Eyed Susan
These charming plants look like sunny faces! Black-eyed Susan can be perennial or annual, so read the tag to be sure about what you're buying.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Pansies
Pansies don't mind the cold and will take cold snaps (even an early snow!) in stride. In warm climates, they'll even last through much of the winter.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10
Chokeberry
This bush gets incredible autumn color that makes it a stunning foundation planting or accent in your landscape. Chokeberry (a.k.a Aronia) also boasts spring flowers.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are great for contrasting with autumn flowers, and their interesting seed heads stay intact to provide winter interest.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 5
Cyclamen
Cyclamen often are sold as houseplants, but they work as pretty groundcovers in warm climates and will bloom for months.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Heuchera
Think beyond the bloom for your fall garden. This perennial is grown mainly for its gorgeous, saturated foliage which comes in every shade from lemony yellow to watermelon red. It's versatile and keeps its leaf color from spring to the first hard freeze.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Janece Maze is Associate Editor at Country Living, where she covers DIY projects, gardening, and travel. When she’s not in the kitchen creating a new recipe with farm fresh ingredients, you can find her on the road heading to a music festival or browsing a local consignment shop.
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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