Fall flowers for pots and hanging baskets add color and interest to the interior or patio. They do well in container gardens as well as ornamental gardens.

Fall Flowers for Pots

What are the different varieties of fall flowers included in these fall planters and what ideal conditions are required for the fall plants to bloom in a fall container garden?

Read on for advice!

A Selection of Fall Flowers for Pots Garden Ideas

Container gardening or window boxes are fun ways to showcase your plants. The ideal varieties of flowers for fall containers, hanging baskets, or fall planters include those which are prone to autumnal blooming or have a long-lasting bloom. Consider flowers for your planter ideas with a good tolerance for cooler fall temperatures.

1. Ornamental Cabbage 

Growing season
  • Winter
  • Early spring 
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Biannual and edible but tastes bitter
  • Cool-weather plants
  • Coarse-textured leaves
Specific needs
  • Full sun
  • Loamy, rich organic soil that drains well
  • Midday shade is best when cultivated in warmer areas and frequent watering is essential
Common pests
  • Cabbage moths
  • Aphids
  • Worms and slugs

Ornamental Cabbage is just another variation of ornamental kale. Although they are genetically identical, gardeners distinguish the two due to the rounded leaves of cabbage as opposed to the spiky kales. It typically takes these annuals twelve weeks to reach full-color maturity. And when cooler weather finally arrives, they perform at their best.

Vibrant Ornamental Cabbage

These plants are cool-season biennials. However, these quickly-growing plants are typically grown as biannuals due to their spectacular leaves. Despite being edible kinds, these ornamental varieties were bred more for aesthetics than flavor. 

Regardless of their mild bitterness, they are frequently used as a garnish. They resemble giant flowers more than vegetables because of the way their leaves create rosettes in hues of purple, rose, and creamy white.

2. Chrysanthemum

Growing season
  • Spring
  •  Fall
Distinguishing Characteristics
  • Dazzling whites to deep bronze flowers
  • Two different types of florets: disc and ray
  • Sweet and floral scent 
Specific Needs
  • Minimum six hours of direct sunlight daily
  • Well-draining soil and frequent watering
  • Plant as soon as you buy it
Common pests
  • Aphids
  • Worms
  • Slugs

These plant species, also known as garden mums, are herbaceous perennials. They are the stars of any autumnal garden as they enhance visual appeal.

Cheerful Chrysanthemum

Long, tubular florets arranged in a compact button-like cluster surround the center of these daisy-like blooms. They produce a single or multicolored, 4-inch flower. Florists use mums in decorative floral arrangements.

Many have alternating stems of straightforward fragrant leaves. While some have neither ray nor disc flowers in their heads, others don’t have either. The flower heads of wild species are substantially smaller than those of cultivated species and hybrids.

While some have neither ray nor disc flowers in their heads, others don’t have either. The flower heads of wild species are substantially smaller than those of cultivated species and hybrids.

3. Purple Fountain Grass

Growing season
  • Fall 
  • Spring
Distinguishing Characteristics
  • Deep burgundy leaves with reddish-pink plumes
  • Grows up to 4 feet tall
  • Soft and wispy, with arching blades that sway in the wind
Specific Needs
  • Requires frequent watering, especially during hot and dry periods
  • Well-draining soil with good organic content
  • Thrives best in full sun but can also tolerate partial shade
Common pests
  • Mealybugs
  • Spider mites
  • Aphids

Purple Fountain Grass, also known as Pennisetum setaceumRubrum,’ is a popular ornamental grass in gardens and landscapes. This fall plant is named for its profusion of long, slender, burgundy-colored leaves, which gracefully shoot out like arcing spikes with nodding purple flowers.

Graceful Purple Fountain Grass

It can add vibrant color and texture to any space. In the fall, the plumes turn a smoky-pink color, which creates a stunning contrast against the deep burgundy foliage. Purple Fountain Grass is also deer resistant, making it a great option for gardeners in areas with high deer populations.

In addition to its beauty, Purple Fountain Grass is a low-maintenance plant that is convenient to grow and care for in addition to its beauty. It does require regular watering and may require it to be cut off in the spring to encourage new growth. However, it is a hardy plant that can withstand heat and drought.

One interesting fact about Purple Fountain Grass is that it is considered invasive in some areas. It has the potential to spread quickly and outcompete native plants, which can negatively impact the local ecosystem. 

Therefore, checking with your local gardening center or extension office before planting Purple Fountain Grass is essential to ensure that it is not considered invasive in your area.

These tropical ornamental grasses are native to Africa and Asia and can grow well in colder climates. This plant’s beauty makes it a common focal point in container gardens and mixed beds. Several of the plants can be massed together to provide a stunning border.

This plant produces gorgeous autumn seed heads favored in fall flower gardens. The flowering stems of this grass are loaded with fluffy seeds. Later, the feathery seed heads, popularly known as “plumes,” can be trimmed for dried flower arrangements.

4. Black-eyed Susan

Growing Season
  • Fall 
  • Spring
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Bright yellow or orange petals with a dark brown or black center
  • Daisy-like flowers with a flat, circular shape
  • Grows to a height of 3 feet and is lance-shaped, with a rough texture
Specific needs
  • Prefers well-draining soil and moderate water
  • Prefers fertile, loamy soil but can tolerate poor soil conditions
  • Sits well in full sun but can also tolerate partial shade
Common pests
  • Aphids
  • Japanese beetles
  • Leafhoppers

The plant is named so because the dark brown center of this daisy-like flower head is referred to as the plant’s “black eye.” Originally from eastern North America and a member of the aster family, these plants grow well in landscapes, borders, butterfly gardens, or containers in the garden. They make excellent cut flowers as well.

Charming Black Eyed Susan

It is also known as Rudbeckia hirta and is a popular perennial plant in gardens and landscapes. It is often used for its bright, cheerful blooms that can last from mid-summer to early fall. These plants are also a great option to attract insects and pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden.

In addition to its beauty and pollinator-friendly qualities, it is also a low-maintenance plant that is easy to care for. It is drought-tolerant and can withstand hot and dry conditions. It does benefit from deadheading to encourage more blooms and may need to be staked to prevent it from flopping over.

One interesting fact about Black-eyed Susan is that it has a wide history of medicinal uses by Native Americans. The plant was used to treat a variety of ailments, including colds, flu, and snakebites. 

The plant is still used in herbal remedies and is considered a natural immune booster. However, it is noteworthy that the plant can be poisonous if ingested in large quantities, so it should be used with precautions and under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

These ornamental fall plants have stalks over 8 inches long, flowers with a 2 to 3 inches diameter, and leaves at least 6 inches long. They can grow to be 1 to 3 feet tall.

The flowers have nectar; therefore, butterflies, bees, and insects are drawn to them. As they consume the nectar, they spread pollen from one plant to another, causing the latter to produce wind-resistant seeds.

5. Coral Bells

Growing season
  • Early Spring
  • Bloom time is early to mid-summer
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Found in various colors like shades of green, purple, pink, and silver
  • Rounded, lobed leaves with a ruffled or scalloped edge
  • Grows up to 1-2 feet tall and has small, bell-shaped flowers that bloom on slender stems 
Specific needs
  • Prefers consistently moist soil but can tolerate drought conditions
  • Enjoys well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH
  • Thrives in partial shade but can tolerate full sun in cooler climates
Common pests
  • Spider mites
  • Fungal leaf spot
  • Slugs and snails

Bell plants, native to North America, grow into rounded mounds with a woody rootstock or crown at their base and tiny bell-shaped blooms. These nectar-rich blossoms also make lovely cut blooms and attract butterflies and hummingbirds. They can be used in various ways in the garden, such as in borders, rock gardens, or as ground cover.

Colorful Coral Bells

In addition to their aesthetic appeal, Coral Bells are a low-maintenance plant that is easy to care for. They are deer resistant and can tolerate various soil and light conditions. However, they do benefit from regular watering and may be required to be divided every few years to maintain their vigor.

One interesting fact about these plants is that they are beautiful and edible. The leaves of some varieties, such as Heuchera americana, have a slightly sour flavor and can be utilized in salads or as a garnish. 

These blooms are edible and can be used to decorate cakes or other desserts. However, it is noteworthy that some varieties may be toxic or cause mild stomach upset, so it is best to research before consuming any part of the plant.

Depending on the environment, they feature spherical, lobed, hairy, evergreen, or semi-evergreen leaves. Newer types of bell plants feature leaves other than the conventional green color, including purple, rose, lime green, gold, and more.

6. Toad Lily

Growing season
  • Fall
  • Late summer
Distinguishing Characteristics
  • White, pink, or purple flowers with speckled or spotted markings
  • Lily-like flowers that bloom in clusters at the top of slender stems
  • Grows up to 2-3 feet tall and is lance-shaped, with a dark green color and a glossy texture
Specific Needs
  • Prefers consistently moist soil
  • Prefers well-draining soil with good organic content
  • Thrives in partial to full shade
Common pests
  • Slugs and snails
  • Spider mites
  • Aphids

Toad plants bloom in various speckled hues in the axles of the plant, adding beauty to the shaded landscape. Depending on the type of growing species, flowers may have a star or bell form.

Exotic Toad Lily

In addition to their beauty, Toad lily is a low-demanding plant that is easy to care for. They can tolerate various soil conditions and are fairly drought-tolerant once established. They may require to be staked to prevent them from flopping over, and deadheading can help encourage more blooms.

One interesting fact about Toad lilies is that they are a popular plant in Japanese gardens and have a special significance in Japanese culture. They are known as “Hototogisu” in Japanese, which means “cuckoo” or “nightingale,” and are believed to be a symbol of autumn and the changing of the seasons. 

Toad lilies are also associated with the Buddhist concept of impermanence, or the idea that everything constantly changes and evolves. True lilies, members of the lily family, produce flowers on some varieties of the toad plant. If the plant is appropriately positioned, its maintenance is low.

7. Dusty Miller

Growing season
  • Late winter
  • Bloom time is all summer
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Silver or grayish-white leaves
  • Deeply lobed, with a textured or fuzzy surface
  • Grows up to 1-2 feet tall with small, yellow or white flowers that bloom in clusters in the summer
Specific needs
  • Prefers well-draining soil and moderate water
  • Prefers fertile, well-draining soil
  • Enjoys full sun but can tolerate partial shade
Common pests
  • Spider mites
  • Whiteflies
  • Aphids

Dusty miller is the popular name for various plants with silver or gray foliage. The one that is frequently used as an annual bedding plant is a Mediterranean perennial subshrub. Usually, it is planted for its decorative leaves.

Elegant Dusty Miller

In addition to its aesthetic appeal, it is also a low-maintenance plant that is easy to care for. It is drought-tolerant and can withstand hot and dry conditions. However, it does benefit from regular watering and may need to be deadheaded to encourage more blooms.

One interesting fact about this plant is its extensive use in herbal medicine. The plant was traditionally used to treat various ailments like fever, coughs, and wounds. 

Today, the plant is still used in some natural remedies and is considered to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, it is critical to consider that the plant can be poisonous if consumed in large quantities, so it should be used with caution and under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

It is more likely a perennial half-hardy, with some varieties more tolerant of cold than others. These herbaceous leaves look felted or wooly, silver or white, because of the small matted hairs that coat them.

Conclusion

Fall potted plants for the porch, patio, or garden uplift the visual appeal due to their vibrant colors and aesthetic shapes. Various late summer and early fall pot flowers include shade, sun, and winter-loving plants.

Here are some points you should keep in mind when planting these perennials. 

  • If you want to grow plants that bloom all season, the best option is cabbage, kale, or mums.
  • If you prefer growing fragrant plants in the fall, the most feasible option is the chrysanthemum.
  • All the above plants love full sun, prefer well-draining soils and grow well in dry and cool climates.

We hope this exhaustive list of autumnal plants has equipped you with the necessary information.

References

  • https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/plants_fall_containers
5/5 - (4 votes)
Evergreen Seeds