Chrysanthemums and pansies are classic fall flowers for pots, but several more blooming annuals and perennials can help add rich color to your container gardens throughout autumn. Most of the following plants will keep blooming until your area's first hard frost, and some also offer colorful foliage. Mix and match them in your fall containers to achieve a beautiful display to enjoy all season long.
African Daisy
Also called osteospermums, African daisies are low-growing plants that make great fall flowers for pots because they bloom best in cooler weather. The flowers come in a range of autumnal colors, as well as white and purple.
Amaranth
Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) looks stunning both in fall porch pots and in autumn flower arrangements in your home. Its bold color and upright flowers make it an excellent “thriller” plant for the center of your container garden.
Aster
Fall-blooming asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) produce tons of small, daisy-like flowers in shades of purple, pink, or white. The blossoms attract butterflies and other pollinators. These plants grow best in full sun and average to moist soil conditions.
Balloon Flower
The pretty purple blooms of balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) are an unusual fall flower for pots, because they're more typically grown in perennial gardens. But they'll also grow well in containers in a sunny spot. Deadhead faded flowers regularly to extend the bloom period up until first frost.
Celosia
The long-lasting flowers of celosia make an attractive addition to both your fall container gardens and vases. These annual flowers come in a range of warm colors, such as red, yellow, and orange. They also come in three different types (plume, candle, and crested), each of which can add interesting texture to fall containers.
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums enjoy cooler temperatures when they are in pots and planters, so add them to your garden once fall temperatures arrive. This will ensure that the blooms’ colors do not fade too quickly. To get the most bloom power possible and to prevent the plant from developing diseases, keep your mums in full sun.
Coral Bells
While coral bells (Heuchera spp.) produce wands of tiny flowers in spring and summer, as fall flowers for pots, their leaves add gorgeous color to containers. These perennial plants come in various autumnal colors, such as deep purple, red, and orange, and can take chilly temperatures without missing a beat.
