The Ultimate Guide to Fall Flowers: 40 Stunning Options for Your Autumn Garden
As the summer months come to a close and the weather starts to cool, it’s time to think about adding some beautiful fall flowers to your garden. Fall flowers not only add vibrant colors to your landscape but also provide interest and texture as your summer blooms fade away. Whether you have a green thumb or you’re just starting out as a gardener, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to fall flowers.
Why Plant Fall Flowers?
Fall flowers are a great way to extend the beauty of your garden into the cooler months. They add pops of color and visual interest to your landscape, creating a welcoming and cozy atmosphere. Plus, many fall flowers are hardy annuals or perennials that can withstand cooler temperatures, making them the perfect choice for autumn planting.
When selecting fall flowers for your garden, consider the following factors:
- Colors, shapes, and sizes that complement your garden style
- Bloom times that extend throughout the fall season
- Sun exposure and soil needs to ensure your flowers thrive
- Planting times based on USDA hardiness zones and regional temperatures
Planting Fall Flowers: Tips and Tricks
Before you start planting your fall flowers, here are some tips to help you get the best results:
- Mid- to late-August is often an excellent time to plant fall flowers. Make sure the weather isn’t too hot or too cold for your plants to thrive.
- Check the USDA hardiness zones and growing requirements for each species to determine the best planting times and conditions.
- Keep the soil moist but not soggy to encourage healthy flowering throughout the fall season.
- Consider plants that bloom at different times to ensure continuous color in your garden.
Now, let’s explore 40 stunning fall flowers to keep your landscape in full bloom this autumn.
Mums (Chrysanthemum spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: September to frost
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Mums are quintessential fall flowers that come in a variety of bloom shapes and colors. Plant them before they are in full bloom to help with the transplanting process and keep the soil moist for optimal flowering.
Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Yellow, orange
🌼 Bloom Time: Late spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Pot marigolds feature daisy-like flowers that can bloom through the fall if deadheaded regularly. They are typically grown as annuals but may self-seed in your garden.
Red Salvia (Salvia splendens)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Bright red
🌼 Bloom Time: June to fall frost
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Also known as scarlet sage, red salvia is a tender perennial that can be grown as an annual. Its bright red flowers bloom in clusters on erect stems and can be potted for overwintering indoors.
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: White, pink, purple
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Sweet alyssum features clusters of small, sweet-scented flowers that bloom in the spring and fall. Cut back the plants in the heat of summer and plant seeds in August for fall flowers.
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: May to September
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Nasturtium species can be annuals or perennials with brightly colored flowers. Water during drought periods to keep these low-maintenance plants thriving in the fall.
Violet (Viola spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Varies
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Violets are low-growing plants that spread readily in the garden. Use slow-release fertilizer in late summer to encourage fall flowering in these colorful, mounding plants.
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to frost
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Snapdragons are tender perennials that bloom from spring to frost in cool climates. They are known for their tubular flowers that resemble a dragon’s head.
Cockscomb (Celosia argentea)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Yellow, orange, red, purple
🌼 Bloom Time: Summer to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Cockscomb flowers have a feathery appearance in a rainbow of colors and can be started indoors for earlier bloom in the spring.
New England Asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Pink, purple
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
New England asters offer vivid fall color with daisy-like flowers that self-seed if left on the plant. Cut plants back for a tidier look or let them spread naturally.
Nippon Daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: White
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Nippon daisies produce long-lasting cut flowers and should be deadheaded to encourage continuous blooming. Plant them in the early spring or fall for the best results.
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Yellow
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Goldenrod is a perennial wildflower that attracts butterflies and bees with its tiny yellow blooms. Remove spent flower clusters to prolong blooming in the fall.
Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Pink, purple
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Joe Pye weed is a perennial wildflower with clusters of tiny flowers that offer delicate fall interest. Cut plants back in the winter for vigorous growth in the spring.
Bluebeard (Caryopteris × clandonensis)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Blue
🌼 Bloom Time: July to September
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Bluebeard, also known as blue mist, blooms in tiny clusters that resemble clouds of blue mist. Ensure good soil drainage to help this small, mounded shrub thrive.
Autumn Joy Stonecrop (Hylotelephium telephium ‘Herbstfreude’)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Pink, red
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop is a hardy, low-maintenance plant that thrives in many growing conditions. Pinch the plant back in the spring for bushier growth and plant it in the spring for fall blooms.
Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Purple
🌼 Bloom Time: Summer to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
The autumn crocus grows from a bulb planted in well-drained soil. Look for foliage in the spring before fall flowers bloom on bare stems.
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Blue, purple
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Russian sage is a woody perennial with gray-green foliage and small, tubular flowers that thrive in sunny spots. Cut plants back in the spring for renewed growth.
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Yellow
🌼 Bloom Time: Summer to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Sunflowers are show-stopping annuals that bloom atop tall stems and feature yellow petals with brown centers. Harvest seeds for planting the following season.
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Yellow, orange
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Helenium, or sneezeweed, is a clump-forming perennial with daisy-like blooms that should be cut back before blooming begins to encourage more flowers.
Petunia (Petunia spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Petunias are tender perennials commonly grown as annuals that bloom from spring to fall. Trim them back in the summer to encourage fall flowering.
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia x Grandiflora)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Blanket flowers are short-lived perennials with bright, daisy-like blooms that form above the foliage on upright stems. Cut back plants to encourage fall flowers.
Floss Flower (Ageratum houstonianum)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Blue
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Floss flowers are long-lasting and provide purplish-blue flowers from late spring to fall. Offer them a bright and moist spot for continuous blooming.
Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Hydrangeas are popular ornamental shrubs that produce large, colorful flower heads well into the fall. Choose from many hydrangea types for versatile and beautiful blooms.
Calibrachoa
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Calibrachoa, also known as million bells, are prolific bloomers that thrive in containers and can fill your porch with bright fall flowers. These self-cleaning plants don’t need deadheading for continuous blooming.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Yellow
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Black-eyed Susans are low-maintenance, hardy wildflowers that provide nectar for pollinators from early summer to late fall. Plant them in a sunny spot to thrive.
Strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Late spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Strawflowers are perfect for cut flower arrangements, with long-lasting blooms that add vivid color to your landscape. Deadhead them throughout the growing season for continuous blooming.
Cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus, Cosmos bipinnatus)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Cosmos flowers are fast-blooming annuals that are perfect for low-maintenance gardens and attract pollinators. Sprinkle seeds in the spring and let them bloom well into the fall.
Fuchsias
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Fuchsias are bright fall spillers for container gardens that attract hummingbirds. Provide the right moisture and humidity levels for these stunning, part-shade-loving flowers.
Dahlia (Dahlia spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Summer to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Dahlias provide bright and beautiful blooms well into the fall, making them ideal thriller plants for containers or flower borders. Water regularly and keep them away from pets as they are toxic.
Canna Lily (Canna spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Summer to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Canna lilies offer a tropical vibe well into the fall in sunny, moist conditions. Unlike true lilies, they are pet-friendly and easy to grow in the right environment.
Sedum (Sedum spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Hardy sedum plants make beautiful, low-maintenance ground covers that attract pollinators. Choose non-invasive sedum varieties for drought-tolerant, deer-resistant options for your garden.
Roses (Rosa spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Roses are classic, fragrant flowers that continue to bloom well into the fall with the right care and maintenance. Deadhead and prune your rose bushes for beautiful blooms throughout the season.
African Daisies (Osteospermum spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Late spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
African daisies feature bright colors that bloom well into the fall in mild temperatures. Choose a bright and moist spot for these tender perennials to thrive.
Begonia (Begonia spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Shade-loving begonias offer colorful foliage and blooms that continue through the fall with less sun than other flowers. Provide the right conditions for these low-maintenance plants to thrive.
Pansies (Pansies spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Spring to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Pansies are fast-growing, colorful flowers that brighten fall flower beds. They do well in part shade and require regular feeding for continuous blooming.
Zinnias (Zinnia spp.)
🌼 USDA Growing Zones: Varies
🌼 Color Varieties: Various
🌼 Bloom Time: Summer to fall
🌼 Sun Exposure: Full sun
🌼 Soil Needs: Well-draining soil
Zinnias are perfect for low-maintenance gardens, with fast blooms that last well into the fall. Choose drought-tolerant Zinnia elegans for a long-lasting splash of color.
