23 Best Fall Flowers for Pots That Will Transform Your Porch or Patio
Get those containers ready for their autumn close-up.
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The first day of fall is just around the corner, which means it's the perfect time to start planning your porch and patio décor. A few well-chosen flowers can carry your outdoor space through the season, adding fresh color alongside carved pumpkins, cornstalks, and all your favorite autumn decorations. This guide to the best fall flowers for pots and containers highlights the blooms that thrive in cooler weather and keep looking beautiful right up until the first frost.
So, what are the best fall flowers? Plenty of blooms do well in containers as long as the pots have good drainage and enough room for the roots to spread. You can keep things simple with a single variety per pot or try the popular "thriller, filler, spiller" method: pair one tall, eye-catching flower with a shorter bloom and a trailing plant. Just remember to group flowers with similar needs for light, soil, and water so they'll all thrive together.
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.
Sedum
Looking for late-season color that practically takes care of itself? Sedum is a star in containers with fast-draining soil and full sun. The rosy flower heads deepen to copper as nights cool, and the fleshy foliage handles dry spells without complaint. Choose compact types like 'Autumn Joy' or 'Autumn Fire' for a tidy, upright display!
Black-Eyed Susans
You can't beat those sunny gold daisies for fall porch cheer. For containers, pick compact varieties like 'Little Goldstar,' set them in full sun, and use well-drained soil. Deadhead spent blooms to keep the flowers coming into autumn and enjoy all the visiting pollinators.
Cyclamen
Want a pop of color in part shade when the weather turns cool? Cyclamen's heart-shaped, marbled leaves and upright blooms add instant charm to steps and tabletops. Keep the soil lightly moist, let the top inch dry between waterings, and avoid wetting the crown. In colder regions, bring pots inside before a hard freeze.
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.
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