40 Best Fall Flowers to Brighten Up Your Garden With Warm Hues
These colorful perennials and annuals bloom in autumn, and may last until winter.
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While fall isn't known for its lush, colorful fields of flowers, it absolutely should be! Autumn is a great season for annuals, low-maintenance perennials and evergreen shrubs to shine. In fact, some of the most popular flowers, like colorful mums, roses, dahlias, purple pansies and yes, even bright yellow sunflowers, all bloom around September and October. We've rounded up the best fall flowers that bloom in mid-summer and continue into late autumn, with some remaining in bloom until the first hard frost.
If you're a beginner gardener and aren't familiar with the terms and timeframes, we're here to share each flower and how to plant a fall garden. We also recommend reviewing the USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zones, which provide helpful information on what and when to plant based on where you live. Depending on your zone, there might be different planting times and overwintering recommendations. Be sure to check each autumn plant's sun and water needs, but you likely want to start planning late spring or early summer to ensure your plant has time to establish roots before the first frost. And, don't forget to consider fall flowers that attract bees and other pollinators.
So, roll up those sleeves, throw on some gardening gloves and gather your pruning shears and watering cans! With a little preparation and guidance, it's time to plant your outdoor fall flowers — most of which make for beautiful autumn flower bouquets and arrangements.
Marigold
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Brassy and warm marigolds are easy to grow and popular since they're in bloom for most of the season. They like full sun and can withstand hot summers, so they're a good option if you live in an area where scorching summers can extend into the fall (looking at you, Texas).
Violas
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These perennials bloom in the summer and return in the fall to add purple pops to your warm-toned garden. They're fast-growing and the flowers are edible, too. Violas like moist and acidic soil, so a peat-based potting mix or adding peat moss into their soil is best for them.
Petunias
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Petunias are one of the most popular flowers for gardens because of their long flowering period: from spring until frost! They're great for hanging baskets — just know that they need full sun so they won't do well in the shade of a porch. Petunia seeds are very small, almost resembling dust, so it might be easier to get a start from a nursery.
Hydrangeas
These elegant perennials start blooming early to midsummer and can survive a winter freeze. Their papery flowers come in a number of varieties, including pink, purple, blue and white (the acidity of your soil often dictates the color of your blooms). They're easy to cultivate and do best in partial shade.
Roses
A classic beauty, shrub roses (also called landscape roses) aren't as much work as you might think. Newer hybrid roses are sturdier, have longer blooms and are more hearty and disease-resistant than the heirloom roses you might be familiar with.
African Daisies
When first introduced to the market, consumers thought the vibrant petals and metallic centers of African daisies were dyed. They bloom quickly after planting and thrive best in full sun. They're also a great choice if you'd like to attract bees.
Blanket Flowers
Commonly named for how they spread out and "blanket" an area, blanket flowers are richly colored daisy-like flowers in warm shades of yellow and red. They thrive in full sun and poor soil, so you don't need to fertilize them as long as the soil drains well.
Flossflower
These tiny blooms resemble frilly pompoms and come in blue, purple, red, white and pink. New flowers grow over the old blooms so they always look freshly bloomed too. They bloom best in full sun.
Strawflower
The bright yellow, button-shaped blooms are nearly as beautiful as the silvery-green foliage. This pick is perfect for hanging baskets, where both the blooms and the stems can be displayed. Though they can tolerate partial shade, they won't bloom as much as full sun exposure.
Black-Eyed Susans
Bright yellow, daisy-like black-eyed Susans can act as annuals, biennials or short-lived perennials. They're drought resistant, but respond well to an occasional watering. They're known to attract pollinators, so expect butterflies and bees!
Chrysanthemums
The quintessential fall flower, you can pick up mums for (practically) a dime a dozen at the grocery store. Set the pots in bright, indirect light and water consistently throughout autumn. To keep 'em blooming (and looking neat), cut off buds as they wilt.
Balloon Flower
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As its name suggests, these gorgeous flowers — which can be found in shades of blue, white and pink — resemble hot-air balloons before they blossom. While they do well with full sun, they can also thrive in partial shade.
Goldenrod
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Goldenrod is a striking weed-like plant that favors full sun and soil that's well drained. But beware if you suffer from allergies, as their pollen can cause a runny nose and itchy eyes.
Dusty Miller
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This fluffy silver plant, which is also known as Jacobaea Maritima, would make for an unexpected addition to your garden. Give it full sun and keep it well-drained to stay healthy.
Hardy Fuchsia
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If your garden needs a burst of color, look no further than hardy fuchsia, which is also referred to as fuchsia magellanica. Keep in mind that the right soil — not too dry, moist or hot — is key for this type of flower.
Sumac
With well-drained soil, these hardy red flowers can grow up to 30 feet tall. They're available in a slew of varieties, so you're sure to find the perfect type to add visual interest to your garden.
Amaranthus
Amaranthus produces gorgeous tassel-like flowers each fall that look great in arrangements — both fresh-cut and dried. Grow this annual in full sun or part shade, advises the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Dahlias
Certain varieties will keep on bloomin' from mid-summer into fall. Pick orange- and red-tinted varieties for autumn bouquets, but dahlias come in just about every color under the sun.
Cornflower
You'll love these bright-blue beauties as much as the birds and butterflies do. Plus, they can adapt in full sun or full shade. For continued flowering, deadhead spent blooms.
Pansies
Pansies can't tolerate heat, but they can withstand the winter. Plant 'em at the end of summer and they'll bloom until a hard frost. Then expect to see their vibrant hues pop up again in the spring.
Abigail (she/her) is product reviews writer who has covered everything from kitchen gear to mattresses and smart blinds. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.A. in creative writing and earned her M.S. in publishing digital and print media from New York University. She currently works at Wirecutter, but has also spent time on staff at Good Housekeeping and The Southern Review literary magazine. In her free time you can find her quilting, cross-stitching or trying to figure out how to squeeze one more bookshelf in her tiny apartment.
Katarina Avendaño (she/her) is the senior SEO editor for Good Housekeeping, where she writes and edits lifestyle content and contributes to SEO strategy. Before joining GH in 2021, she was the digital editor at New York Family, where she was responsible for the website’s content and strategy. Katarina received her bachelor's degree in communications and Spanish from the University of Washington.
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