Skip to main content

The colors of fall flowers can be striking: 12 flowers that’ll have your garden bursting with autumn colors

Keep your fall garden gorgeous and colorful with these flowers

Mums in assorted colors of red, orange, yellow, pink
saifullah hafeel / Pexels

Spring and summer receive most of the attention when it comes to beautiful flowers, but there are many wonderful flowers that bloom in fall, too! From reds and golds that match your trees’ leaves to softer blues and purples, there are so many options to choose from. No matter the climate you live in or the colors you prefer, there are plants that will look great in your autumn garden. These 12 fall flowers can satisfy any gardener, whether you’re looking to fill a full flower bed or just one or two containers to spruce up your porch. Here are our favorite flowers to bring the colors of fall to your home or garden.

Celosia

Pale orange celosia flowers
JACLOU-DL / Pixabay

Celosia, also sometimes called cock’s comb or wool flowers, are sure to stand out in any garden. These unique flowers come in shades of pink, orange, red, yellow, and purple. They can be shaped like fox tails (triangular and bushy) or like coral, wide and wavy. They grow easily in containers or gardens. Celosia are low-maintenance flowers. They enjoy full sun, although they will tolerate some shade, and do best in well-draining soil. Celosia won’t tolerate standing water or wet feet, so let the soil dry between waterings.

Recommended Videos

Marigold

Potted marigolds
Yui Yuize / Shutterstock

Marigold is a garden classic, with flowers that bloom in a range of rich golds and reds. They come in a variety of sizes as well, from the tiny and cute French marigolds to the large and impressive Aztec marigolds. Plant your marigolds somewhere they’ll be sure to get plenty of sun. Water them thoroughly, but allow the soil to dry between waterings. Although it can be tempting to fertilize your marigolds, this actually results in more leaves and fewer flowers.

Lobelia

Blue lobelia flowers
sergei_spas / Pixabay

Lobelia is an herb with stunning blue or red flowers. There are many short varieties perfect for containers or borders, and even a few tall varieties that make excellent centerpieces. Lobelias are very easy to care for, preferring full sun and rich, moist soil. In hotter climates, they may need more frequent watering.

Love-in-a-mist

Blue, white, and pink love in a mist flowers
LunarSeaArt / Pixabay

Love-in-a-mist, or nigella, is a plant with unique, feathery leaves and lovely flowers in shades of blue, pink, and white. Planting a cluster of these flowers together can give you the mist effect they’re named for, as the thin, branching leaves overlap each other. Love-in-a-mist aren’t picky plants; they only need a sunny place with rich, well-draining soil to grow and thrive. For early spring blooms, nigella can be planted in fall. For blossoms that last through summer into fall, plant your nigella in the spring.

Rose

Orange miniature roses
Totokzww / Shutterstock

Roses come in almost every color and shade, with bloom times ranging from early spring to late summer and fall. The secret to successful rose care lies in the planting location. Roses need full sun, or mostly sun with afternoon shade in the hottest climates. They’re also pickier about soil type than other flowers, requiring rich, loamy, slightly acidic soil that drains well. Rose-specific fertilizers can also help.

Some of the best varieties for fall roses are the yellow blooms of Arthur Bell roses, the soft pink Queen Elizabeth rose, and Crystal Fairy, a smaller, more delicate-looking white rose. Hybrid Tea roses also tend to bloom in the fall, and there are countless colors available, from the velvety red Mister Lincoln to the sunrise-colored Lady of Shalott.

Pansy

Purple and white pansy flowers
AnnaER / Pixabay

Countless fall flower gardens include pansies, and it’s no wonder why. The contrast of the deep, rich purple and black with the bright yellow that pansies are known for makes these flowers stand out, whether in a container on their own or in a garden with other flowers. Pansies are an especially great choice if you’re looking to attract butterflies to your garden.

Pansies will grow in full sun or partial shade, and they prefer rich, well-draining soil. Pansies can grow in most climates, although they’re more tolerant of the cold than they are of heat. In summer, or in hotter climates in general, give your pansies a little shade to help keep them cool.

Aster

Beautiful light purple asters
Flower_Garden / Shutterstock

Asters are another fall garden staple. They come in a wide variety of colors, including white, blue, purple, and pink. Asters can be tall or short, with large blooms or tiny flowers, so play around with different varieties to see what best suits your garden. Regardless of the variety you choose, aster care is simple. Plant them in full to partial sun and in rich, well-draining soil. Be careful not to get their leaves wet when you water them, though, as this can lead to powdery mildew.

Heuchera

Three types of heuchera growing outdoors
Buquet Christophe / Shutterstock

Heuchera, or coral bells, grow lovely flower spikes but gardeners prize them for their colorful leaves. The leaves can range from dark purple to bright orange. Heuchera require very little care; they prefer slightly acidic soil, partial shade, and good drainage. In the fall, you can cut the flower stalks off to help conserve energy. When dried and crushed, the flower stalks produce a lovely sweet smell.

Chrysanthemum

A chrysanthemum plant with several round, reddish-pink flowers
Kareni / Pixabay

In many regions, potted chrysanthemums (or just “mums” for short) appearing in stores is a sure sign that fall is arriving. They bloom in shades of orange and purple and have beautiful round flowers. For the best blooms, plant your mums in full sun and keep them moist but not soggy. A layer of mulch can help them survive the winter.

Snapdragon

Orange snapdragons
ZenAga / Pixabay

Snapdragons grow beautiful flower spikes that bloom in any number of colors, from reds and oranges to pinks and purples. Snapdragons do best in full sun with rich, well-draining soil. Shorter varieties are perfect for containers, and taller varieties look stunning as walkway borders.

Coneflowers

An assortment of pink, white, and red coneflowers
_Alicja_ / Pixabay

Coneflowers bloom through summer and fall in shades of yellow, pink, orange, red, and purple. Their name comes from the way their petals fold down, creating a unique cone-shaped flower. Native to the eastern and central parts of the US, coneflowers are a big hit with birds as well.

Their seed heads offer both a unique visual for your garden and a food source for your local wildlife. Coneflowers are easy to care for – just plant them in full to partial sun and water them during dry weather. Additionally, they’re easy to find in most nurseries and garden stores, whether you’re looking for mature plants, seedlings, or seeds.

Blanket flowers

A red and yellow blanket flower.
JodyDellDavis / Pixabay

Gaillardia, also known as blanket flowers, are gorgeous fall flowers. These relatives of asters are native to the US, and, similarly to coneflowers, they are an excellent food source for local pollinators and wildlife. With large and bright, two-toned (red and yellow) flowers, they make a lovely addition to any fall garden. While blanket flowers are perennial, they often grow as annuals because of their shorter lifespan. However, they will also self-seed, so even if the first plant doesn’t return, you may still see blanket flowers appear in your garden.

From the fiery celosia to the cool love-in-a-mist, any of these eleven flowers would make lovely additions to an autumn garden. Be sure to choose your planting sites carefully, and don’t be afraid to try out all sorts of different combinations of colors and heights. Have fun with your garden, and enjoy the bright colors of every season.

Topics
Cayla Leonard
Cayla Leonard is a writer from North Carolina who is passionate about plants.  She enjoys reading and writing fiction and…
Plant these stunning flowering shrubs for a showstopping garden display
Flowering plants you'll love for your outdoor space
White azalea flowers

If you want a garden full of beautiful flowering plants, your first instinct might be to plant flowers, or perhaps even a tree. Gardeners often overlook flowering shrubs, but they can produce some of the most beautiful flowers! They’re easier to plant than a tree, and since all the flowers are on one plant, they're quicker to care for than flowers. Want to add flowering bushes to your yard? Here are our top picks!
Beauty bush

Beauty bush has several names, including Linnaea amabilis, Kolkwitzia amabilis, or simply beauty bush. Native to China, this shrub is popular for being extremely easy to grow. It is tolerant of all soil types, moderately drought tolerant, and quick to grow. The beauty bush earns its name by growing many pale pink, bell-shaped flowers in the spring. This shrub can grow to between 6 and 10 feet tall and wide, but you can also keep it smaller through regular pruning.
Azalea

Read more
4 gorgeous unique flowers that will stun in your garden
Add drama to your garden with these interesting blooms
A wildflower garden full of colorful flowers

There are so many classic garden flowers that you can add to your garden, and they’re lovely. However, after you’ve grown them a few times, you might find yourself craving something more exciting. If you’re tired of roses and tulips, why not give one of these unique flowers a try? Each one has something that sets it apart from other flowers, making them a delightful addition to all sorts of homes and gardens. So enjoy planting and growing these incredible, unique flowers for yourself!
Beach spider lily

Beach spider lilies, like red spider lilies, are not actually related to lilies. It’s in the amaryllis family. Beach spider lilies, Hymenocallis littoralis, have beautiful white blooms with long, curving petals that drape down the side of the stem. The flowers are attractive to pollinators, including hummingbirds.

Read more
How to create your own pollinator garden – invite bees, butterflies, and more to your outdoor space
Step-by-step guide to attract pollinators to your landscape
A group of purple coneflowers

Our pollinators need a break. Consider the monarch butterfly or honey bee, or any of our more than 3,600 lesser-known bee species, hundreds of native butterflies, and hummingbirds. They convert flowers into fruits, grains, nuts, and seeds, including those of more than 150 different North American food crops. However, they face mounting pressure due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Pollinator gardening reduces that pressure. If you're wondering how to create a pollinator garden, we'll help you with some tips ahead.
What is a pollinator garden?

A pollinator garden is a safe haven for bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and other creatures that carry pollen. It might be as simple as a large container garden with a variety of pollen- and nectar-bearing flowers. Or it could encompass many acres, with host plants that support various stages of life, a progression of flowers throughout the year, and a source of water. Typically, it’s any convenient backyard space that needs a bit of attention.
How to create a new pollinator garden

Read more