Fall is a magical time to refresh your outdoor spaces with vibrant, season-appropriate container plants. The cooler temperatures and changing light provide the perfect backdrop to showcase bold colors, unique textures, and hardy foliage. Whether you have a sprawling garden or a small balcony, fall container gardening offers flexibility and beauty to brighten up your space. In this guide, we’ll explore 17 of the best plants to use in your fall containers to create an autumnal oasis.
Benefits of Container Gardening in Fall
Container gardening is especially beneficial during the fall months for several reasons. First, the flexibility to move plants allows you to control their exposure to sunlight and protect them from early frosts. This is a huge advantage when the weather becomes unpredictable. Containers also let you experiment with plant combinations, allowing you to tailor the design to your personal style. Finally, plants in containers are easier to cover or bring inside during unexpected cold snaps, ensuring they last longer into the season.
Criteria for Choosing Fall Container Plants
When selecting plants for fall containers, it’s essential to focus on hardiness, color, texture, and the balance between flowering and foliage plants. Hardy plants that can withstand cooler temperatures are ideal, ensuring that your containers thrive as the season progresses. Additionally, choose plants with rich autumnal colors—think reds, oranges, purples, and yellows—that reflect the seasonal shift. Texture also plays a role, as mixing plants with different foliage creates visual interest. Finally, consider a mix of flowering plants and those that provide striking foliage for a well-rounded display.
17 Best Fall Container Plants
Now let’s explore some of the best container plants to try out this fall:
1. Chrysanthemums (Mums)
Chrysanthemums are the quintessential fall plant. Available in a wide array of colors—ranging from deep purples to vibrant oranges and classic whites—mums are a fantastic choice for adding bold color to your fall containers. They bloom profusely in cooler temperatures, making them ideal for the season.
To care for mums in containers, make sure they’re placed in full sun, as they thrive with plenty of light. Regular watering is essential to keep them blooming throughout the fall, but be cautious not to overwater. Deadheading (removing spent blooms) will encourage more flowering, extending their beauty through the autumn months.
2. Pansies and Violas
Pansies and violas are beloved for their delicate yet resilient flowers, which continue blooming well into the fall. These plants can handle cooler temperatures, and their striking color combinations—from bright yellows and blues to rich purples—add a cheerful touch to any container.
These plants prefer partial to full sun and should be watered consistently, especially during dry spells. Pansies and violas also work well in mixed containers, where they can complement other fall foliage with their bold blooms. Consider pairing them with ornamental grasses or trailing ivy for a layered look.
3. Ornamental Cabbage and Kale
Ornamental cabbage and kale are standout fall plants due to their striking foliage. With colors that range from soft greens to deep purples and pinks, they add texture and dimension to fall containers. These plants don’t flower, but their vibrant rosettes more than make up for it with their intricate, decorative appearance.
Ornamental cabbage and kale thrive in cooler weather and can tolerate light frost, making them perfect for late fall. They require minimal maintenance, needing only regular watering to prevent the soil from drying out. For maximum impact, use them as focal points in your container arrangements, paired with lower-growing plants.
4. Asters
Asters are a fantastic choice for fall containers, providing a burst of color in shades of blue, purple, and pink. Their daisy-like blooms create a lovely contrast against the more subdued hues of fall foliage, making them a vibrant addition to any outdoor display.
Plant asters in a location that receives full sun, and water them regularly to keep the soil moist but not soggy. They bloom prolifically during the fall and are great for attracting pollinators like butterflies. Asters can be planted alone or combined with other fall plants such as sedum or ornamental grasses for added texture.
5. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum, also known as stonecrop, is a hardy succulent that provides structure and texture to fall containers. With its thick, fleshy leaves and star-shaped flowers that bloom in late summer and early fall, sedum adds a unique, architectural element to your garden.
Sedum thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, making it a low-maintenance option for fall containers. It’s also drought-tolerant, so it doesn’t need frequent watering. Sedum’s compact size and interesting texture make it an excellent choice for filling in gaps in mixed plantings or as a standalone feature in smaller containers.
6. Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Heuchera, commonly known as coral bells, is a favorite for fall containers due to its vibrant foliage. The leaves come in a variety of colors, from deep burgundy to lime green, adding a striking contrast to other plants. While heuchera does flower, its main appeal lies in its stunning foliage, which lasts well into the colder months.
Heuchera prefers partial shade, making it a good option for containers placed in shadier areas. It requires well-drained soil and regular watering. For a bold statement, mix heuchera with ornamental grasses or pansies to create a layered and textured display.
7. Japanese Lantern (Physalis)
The Japanese lantern plant is known for its bright, orange papery husks that resemble lanterns. These husks surround the plant’s fruit and are a unique addition to fall containers, providing a splash of color and a conversation starter for any outdoor space.
Japanese lanterns thrive in well-drained soil and full to partial sun. While they are relatively low-maintenance, be sure to keep an eye on their water needs during dry spells. These plants are excellent for adding height to containers and pair well with shorter, trailing plants like ivy or ornamental cabbage.
8. Fall-Blooming Perennials (e.g., Sedum, Echinacea)
Fall-blooming perennials, such as sedum and echinacea, offer long-lasting blooms that can extend the beauty of your container garden well into the cooler months. These perennials are often hardy and can handle the temperature fluctuations of autumn, making them ideal for this time of year.
Echinacea, with its vibrant purple and pink blooms, is a striking choice, while sedum’s thick, succulent leaves add texture. Both require full sun and well-drained soil. Plant them together for a cohesive look, or use them to add height and structure to your container arrangement.
9. Creeping Thyme
Creeping thyme is a versatile plant that adds a lush, green ground cover to your fall containers. This aromatic herb has tiny, delicate leaves and blooms with small purple flowers in late summer, which makes it an attractive addition to any arrangement.
Thyme thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it a low-maintenance option for container gardens. It works well as a filler plant, weaving between taller fall plants like chrysanthemums or ornamental grasses. As an added bonus, creeping thyme is drought-tolerant and provides a pleasant fragrance.
10. Pine or Spruce Foliage
For a touch of evergreen elegance, consider adding small pine or spruce trees to your fall container gardens. These evergreens provide year-round interest and serve as a striking backdrop for colorful fall blooms. Their needle-like foliage offers texture and a soothing green hue that contrasts beautifully with autumn flowers.
Pine and spruce trees thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. As they are hardy, they will continue to look great throughout the fall and winter seasons. Use them in larger containers as focal points, surrounded by seasonal plants such as pansies or violas for a dynamic arrangement.
11. Cyclamen
Cyclamen is a popular fall plant known for its delicate, heart-shaped blooms that come in shades of pink, red, and white. These flowers thrive in cooler temperatures, making them ideal for fall container gardens. Cyclamen also has attractive marbled leaves that add a touch of elegance to any arrangement.
Cyclamen prefers partial shade and well-drained soil. Keep them well-watered, but avoid overwatering, as they are prone to root rot. Cyclamen looks stunning in containers by itself or combined with other fall plants like heuchera and ornamental cabbage for a sophisticated display.
12. Heather
Heather is a hardy, evergreen shrub that produces small, bell-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white during the fall months. Its low-growing habit makes it a great choice for container gardening, especially when paired with taller plants to create layers.
Heather thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers acidic, well-drained soil. Regular watering is essential, particularly in the early stages of growth. Its evergreen foliage ensures that your container garden will continue to look great long after the flowers have faded.
13. Goldenrod
Goldenrod is a tall, bright yellow perennial that adds a splash of color to fall container gardens. Its feathery flowers attract pollinators, making it a great choice for those looking to support local wildlife. Goldenrod is drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun, making it an easy-to-grow addition to any fall container.
Pair goldenrod with plants that have darker foliage, such as heuchera or ornamental cabbage, for a stunning contrast. It works well as a centerpiece in larger containers or can be used to add height and structure to mixed plantings.
14. Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
For a bold statement, consider adding a small red maple tree to your fall containers. Known for its stunning, vibrant red foliage in the autumn, red maple is an excellent focal point for larger containers. Its beautiful leaves provide a striking contrast to other fall plants and can transform your outdoor space into a colorful fall haven.
Red maple trees thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Be sure to choose a dwarf variety for container gardening, as these trees can grow quite large. Surround the red maple with smaller, complementary plants like pansies or creeping thyme to complete the look.
15. Dwarf Fountain Grass
Ornamental grasses like dwarf fountain grass bring movement and texture to fall containers. With its tall, feathery plumes that sway in the breeze, dwarf fountain grass adds a sense of whimsy and elegance to any arrangement. Its golden or burgundy hues fit perfectly with the autumn palette.
Fountain grass thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, requiring little maintenance. It works well as a centerpiece in mixed containers, especially when paired with plants like heuchera, mums, or sedum to balance the softness of the grasses with bold textures and colors.
16. Ivy (Hedera helix)
Ivy is a versatile trailing plant that adds a classic touch to fall container gardens. Its dark green, lobed leaves provide a rich backdrop for more colorful plants, and its cascading habit softens the edges of containers, creating a lush, overflowing look.
Ivy thrives in partial to full shade and requires regular watering. It’s an excellent filler plant that complements a wide variety of other fall plants, including chrysanthemums, pansies, and heuchera. Ivy’s hardy nature ensures that it will continue to look great throughout the cooler months.
17. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum)
Snapdragons are a popular fall container plant known for their tall, spiky blooms that come in a wide range of colors. From soft pastels to vibrant reds and oranges, snapdragons add height and a burst of color to any container garden. They thrive in the cooler fall weather and will continue to bloom until the first frost.
Snapdragons prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Be sure to water them regularly to keep their blooms vibrant. Use snapdragons as a centerpiece in your containers, paired with lower-growing plants like pansies or creeping thyme to create a balanced, layered arrangement.
Conclusion
Fall is a season of change, and with it comes the opportunity to transform your outdoor space with stunning container gardens. Whether you prefer bold flowers, textured foliage, or evergreen elegance, these 17 fall container plants offer endless possibilities to create beautiful, seasonal displays. Mix and match these plants to design unique, vibrant container gardens that will thrive well into the cooler months, bringing warmth and color to your outdoor spaces.