16 Great Fall Flowers and Plants for Containers and Gardens

Raul Cornelius is a Senior Editor at BalconyGardenWeb and an expert in flower and herb cultivation based in Phoenix, Arizona. A frequent speaker at horticultural events, he is also an active contributor to Facebook flower groups. Holding an MBA and a BCom, Raul blends his gardening skills with strong leadership and analytical abilities. Passionate about writing and photography, he enjoys early mornings with coffee and books, and nature bike rides during weekends.
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Not only the mums but there are also other Fall Flowers for Containers that you can grow for a great show of colors in autumn!

Check out some of the most stunning Fall Flowers for Containers that will help you to make a beautiful autumn landscape full of vivid colors!

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Best Fall Flowers for Containers

1. Mums

fall flowers for containers 1

Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum

USDA Zones: 3 – 11

Colorful mums define fall! They’re one of the most popular flowers in the world and are available in many colors. Growing them in containers is also super easy, and they grow in almost every climate.

Learn more about growing Chrysanthemum here

2. Goldenrod

Botanical Name: Solidago

USDA Zones: 4-9

Goldenrod blooms in late summer to fall. This cheery plant can be grown easily in containers and goes along well with ferns, ornamental grasses, and other fall flowers.

3. Stonecrop

fall flowers for containers 3

Botanical Name: Sedum

USDA Zones: 4-10

A gorgeous, late-blooming succulent, stonecrop is a tough little cookie that will bowl you over with its tolerance to extremes. It can last through frosts, full sun, and strong winds!

4. Toad Lily

roraimanursery

Botanical Name: Tricyrtis hirta

USDA Zones: 4-9

The orchid-like flowers of toad lilies blossom at the time when most plants have finished blooming, from late summer to the end of autumn. It does well in partial shade.

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5. Sneezeweeds

fall flowers for containers 5

Botanical Name: Helenium

USDA zones: 3-8

A close cousin of Daisy, Helenium features cheerful blooms in sunset colors at the end of the summer season. It is easy to maintain and looks great in pots!

6. Sweet Autumn Clematis

Botanical Name: Clematis terniflora

USDA Zones: 4-11

Dainty white flowers of sweet autumn clematis start to open from late summer until late fall and even up to winter in warm climates, spreading their sweet scent into the air.

7. Caryopteris

fall flowers for containers 7

Botanical Name: Caryopteris

USDA Zones: 5-9

Caryopteris is known for its deep blue flowers and grayish-green leaves with tiny silver veins. Its aromatic foliage and nectar-rich blooms make it the perfect choice for attracting pollinators.

8. Pansy

Botanical Name: Viola tricolor var. hortensis

USDA Zones: 6-11

Pansies are no doubt the best container flowers. They’re super easy to grow, and in moderate climates, they bloom year-round.

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9. Black-Eyed Susan

fall flowers for containers 9

Botanical Name: Rudbeckia

USDA Zones: 3-8

Rudbeckia blooms from summer to fall until the end of October. Typically, a summer flower, but it can transform your fall flower garden with exciting yellow—other colors are also available.

10. Aster

Fall Flowers for Containers 13

Botanical Name: Asteraceae

USDA Zones: 3-11

Just like mums, asters respond to the shortened days of fall by giving a blanket of small daisy-like blooms. Full of nectar, they bring bees, butterflies, and color to your garden.

11. Million Bells

fall flowers for containers 11

Botanical Name: Calibrachoa

USDA Zones: 9-11

Small and showy petunia-like flowers and a diverse array of color options make Million Bells a must-have for any container garden. This prolific bloomer starts to flower from spring, summer and continues this in fall. In the tropics, it blooms in winter!

12. Coneflower

Fall Flowers for Containers 14

Botanical Name: Echinacea

USDA Zones: 3-8

Coneflower features daisy-like blooms with raised centers, available in bright colors that remind you of the autumn sky during sunset. Keep the plant in full sun, in loose, well-drained soil.

42 Types of Coneflower Varieties | Types of Echinacea

13. Oxalis

fall flowers for containers 13

Botanical Name: Oxalidaceae

USDA Zones: 7-11

Oxalis is an elegant mounding plant, a great choice for filling a container, and it is also a perfect fall houseplant. The beautiful, inconspicuous pink or slight blue flowers start to appear in summer and continue in the autumn. You can also pair it with other plants to create a bold statement.

14. Coral Bells

garden

Botanical Name: Heuchera

USDA Zones: 4-11

Coral bells make a dramatic statement in the container garden with their interesting leaf textures and mind-blowing spectrum of colors. Pair this plant with other fall plants for a fabulous fall container garden display!

15. Marigold

fall flowers for containers 15

Botanical Name: Tagetes

USDA Zones: 2-11

These colorful beauties will add a vivid dimension to your garden as they are in full bloom during fall as well, especially if you live in a warm climate. Go for French and Signet marigolds for pots as other varieties can grow tall.

Check out some less common marigold varieties here!

16. Coleus

Fall Flowers for Containers 16

Botanical Name: Coleus scutellarioides

USDA Zones: 8-11

Growing coleus gives you the best of both worlds—stunning foliage that comes in vivid colors and flowers! Grow it where the plant gets a lot of bright, indirect light.

Which one of these fall plants do you like most? Did we miss any plants? Please share in the comments!

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3 COMMENTS

  1. The blue or indigo purple flowers of aster are a symbol of the fall garden and can work equally well in a fall container garden. Because most types grow rather tall—as much as six feet—these are plants best suited for very large containers. As container plants, they do best when planted in rich soil and kept moist but not soggy. After flowering is complete, cut the stems back completely and store the potted plants in a cold frame or greenhouse.

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