12 Best Plants for Fall Planters and Container Gardens

Now that autumn is almost here, it’s time to refresh your window boxes, containers, and flower pots. Let me show you 12 of the best plants for fall planters. I’ll also share why they are a perfect choice for your container gardens.

There’s something so magical about a fall flower container garden, isn’t there? Those deep and gorgeous colors mixed in with a pumpkin or two really help to bring the garden alive again after most of the flowers have started fading away.

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I’m a self-taught hobby gardener, not a Master Gardener. Everything I share with you on my blog is my personal opinion and things that worked for me along the way.

What To Look for in Small Plants for Pots

There’s something to love about vibrant fall plants in a garden pot or container garden. It could be their ability to bring a burst of color and life to your front porch, balcony, or window boxes during a season of change after the summer flowers have died off.

Fall container gardens feature a stunning mix of textures, from the velvety petals of chrysanthemums to the ornamental foliage of kale and cabbage.

Choose fall annuals that are known for their frost tolerance. Plants like pansies, violas, ornamental kale, and flowering cabbage are excellent choices because they can withstand chilly temperatures.

When to Plant Fall Container Plants

The timing for shifting your garden and looking for plants for fall planters depends on your local climate and the specific plants you want to grow. However, there are some general guidelines you can follow to make this shift successful.

Know Your First Frost Date

In general, it’s a good idea to start planting your fall annuals about 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date. This allows the plants to establish strong roots and acclimate to the changing weather conditions.

Monitor Temperature Trends

Keep an eye on temperature trends in your area. While fall annuals are more tolerant of cooler temperatures, sudden drops in temperature, unseasonably cold snaps, or an unexpected hard freeze can still stress young plants. If needed, provide temporary protection using row covers or cloths.

Care and Maintenance for Your Fall Container Plants

Prepare the Soil

Before planting, ensure that your garden beds are well-prepared with nutritious soil. Adding compost or other organic matter can help improve soil structure and provide essential nutrients for your new plants.

Regular Watering

Water your fall annuals regularly, especially after planting. Adequate moisture helps the plants establish roots and adapt to their new environment.

Continue Care

Continue caring for your fall annuals throughout the season. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming and be attentive to water and nutrient needs.

The Best Plants for Fall Planters

1. Mums

Chrysanthemums are the perfect late-season bloomers and add stunning fall color to any dull porch or container garden.

When to Plant	around 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date in your area
Planting Needs	require well-draining soil, a sunny location, and regular watering to thrive
Watering Needs	water deeply and consistently, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged
Companion Plant	ornamental kale, as its vibrant foliage complements the mum’s blooms and adds visual interest to the garden

There are 2 types of mums…

When picking out a mum for your fall container, try to find one that is just starting to bud to maximize bloom time.

Mums are great fillers for your flower containers.

2. Pansies and Violas

Both pansies and violas can withstand the variable fall temperatures in many zones, and come in purple, burgundy, magenta, white, yellow, and more.

When to Plant	around 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date in your area
Planting Needs	well-draining soil, prefers partial to full sun, and benefits from regular watering
Watering Needs	Water consistently, keeping the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, to encourage their colorful and prolonged flowering during the cooler months
Companion Plant	ornamental grasses, as their airy texture contrasts beautifully with the vibrant blooms of the flowers.

The difference between pansies and violas is…

Because they have little freeze tolerance, most pansies and violas will die in the winter. In areas with moderate temperatures, like in the Pacific Northwest, they usually come back again in the spring.

These cool-season flowers not only add color but also drape elegantly over the sides of containers, making them perfect as “spillers” for your fall containers.

3. Ornamental Cabbage and Kale

Ornamental plants, such as cabbage and kale, are festive plants for fall containers. They’re my favorite plants for fall planters in the container garden, bringing beautiful color and texture to mixed containers.

When to Plant	around 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date in your area
Planting Needs	well-draining soil, prefers full sun to partial shade, and benefits from consistent moisture to support its striking leaf coloration
Watering Needs	water consistently, maintaining even moisture in the soil without allowing it to become overly soggy, to support their vibrant foliage coloration
Companion Plant	winter pansies, as their similar color palette and cold tolerance create a harmonious and eye-catching fall display

If you’re looking for “thriller” plants for fall planters, ornamental kale and cabbages will not let you down. They have the most gorgeous sage greens with pops of pink, purple, and creams.

Do you know the difference between cabbage and kale? Kale has spiky foliage.

The most amazing thing is that as the weather gets cooler, the colors of flowering cabbage and kale intensify even more, especially after a frost.

Ornamental varieties of cabbage and kale with their unique colors and textures make excellent focal points, perfect as “thrillers” in a flower pot.

4. Asters

These beautiful daisy-like flowers bloom in late summer/early fall, so they create an abundance of color when most plants have faded with the season. Asters will attract butterflies to your garden too! 

When to Plant	around 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date in your area
Planting Needs	well-draining soil, prefer full sun, and require regular watering
Watering Needs	water regularly, providing consistent moisture to the soil without saturating it, to encourage healthy growth and abundant flowering
Companion Plant	goldenrod, as their complementary colors and similar growing requirements create a harmonious and vibrant fall garden scene

Asters are perfect “fillers” for your flower pots.

5. Impatiens

Impatiens are the perfect option for shaded container gardens.

When to Plant	around 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date in your area
Planting Needs	well-draining soil, prefers partial to full shade, and benefits from consistent moisture
Watering Needs	water consistently and evenly, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, to ensure their lush growth and continuous flowering
Companion Plant	begonias, as their shade tolerance and lush foliage create a visually appealing and vibrant combination.

These plants can start looking quite leggy in the late summer, but pinching back the stems it will encourage bushier growth and promote new blooms for fall.

6. Celosia

Celosia, also called cockscomb, is a beautiful annual flower with blooms that look like the colors of a stunning sunset. These are the most beautiful plants for fall planters because of their unique feathery spikes and crested blooms, depending on the variety.

When to Plant	around 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date in your area
Planting Needs	well-draining soil, prefers full sun, and requires regular watering to support its unique and vibrant flower heads
Watering Needs	water consistently, providing even moisture to the soil without letting it become overly wet, to support its unique and striking flower heads
Companion Plant	dusty miller, as its silvery foliage contrasts beautifully with celosia’s vibrant flowers and adds texture to the arrangement.

7. Coleus

Coleus has the most colorful foliage and a wide variety of shapes and leaf sizes. With combinations of green, pink, red, maroon, and more, your flower containers will never lack interest.

When to Plant	around 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date in your area to showcase its striking foliage colors and patterns as the season changes
Planting Needs	well-draining soil, can tolerate varying light conditions from full sun to shade depending on the variety, and benefits from regular watering
Watering Needs	water regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist but not soggy, to maintain its colorful and vibrant foliage
Companion Plant	sweet potato vine, as its trailing and colorful foliage complements the varied hues and patterns of coleus leaves

This fabulous plant complements just about any fall flower you combine it with.

8. Ornamental Grasses

Add texture and interest to your fall containers by planting ornamental grasses. The plumes and ornamental foliage are perfect for autumn and are low maintenance. Purple fountain grass is my favorite.

Ornamental grasses make a wonderful “filler” and “thriller” for your flower containers.

When to Plant	around 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date in your area to highlight their captivating foliage colors in the cooler months
Planting Needs	well-draining soil, prefers full sun to light shade, and requires minimal maintenance once established to add texture and movement to the garden
Watering Needs	water grasses moderately, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings, to support their growth without causing waterlogged conditions
Companion Plant	black-eyed Susans, as their daisy-like blooms provide a charming contrast to the grass’s feathery texture

9. Marigolds

I have a mixture of nursery-bought and seed-sown marigolds, and yellow and orange blooms. I love this plant because of how long it blooms from early summer through the first frost. Another great feature of marigolds is their scent which makes deer run the other way.

When to Plant	around 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date in your area to enjoy their vibrant blooms and natural pest-repelling properties during the autumn season
Planting Needs	well-draining soil, prefer full sun, and benefit from regular watering to promote their vibrant blooms and deter pests
Watering Needs	water consistently, keeping the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, to encourage healthy growth and vibrant blooms
Companion Plant	zinnias, as their vibrant and diverse blooms create a cheerful and colorful garden display

Marigolds are great for repelling insects and pests from garden plants because of their pungent scent. They are also a host plant for some Lepidoptera caterpillars.

Other Fall Container Plants You Should Try

I haven’t grown these specific plants in my fall garden but I just might try them this autumn season.

10. Heuchera (Coral Bells)

These perennials have beautiful foliage colors and a compact growth habit, making them great for adding depth to your arrangement. Heuchera makes a great “spiller” in any fall container.

11. Creeping Jenny

This low-growing plant features bright green leaves and trails beautifully. Because creeping Jenny has a cascading effect it makes a great spiller in your container garden.

12. Ornamental Peppers

With their colorful and often vibrant fruits, ornamental peppers are gorgeous fall focal points, making them a “thriller” in any autumn flower planter.

Common Questions About Fall Container Plants

What Plants Will Survive Winter in a Container?

Several plants can survive the winter in containers, adding a touch of beauty to your outdoor spaces even during the colder months. Some winter-hardy options for container gardening include:

What is the Easiest Plant to Grow in the Fall?

Pansies are often considered one of the easiest plants to grow in the fall.

They are versatile, hardy, and known for their vibrant blooms. Pansies thrive in cooler temperatures and can withstand light frosts, making them an excellent choice for autumn gardening.

They come in a wide range of colors and are relatively low-maintenance, making them a great option for both beginners and experienced gardeners looking to add a splash of color to their fall landscape.

Pansies can be grown in garden beds, containers, or hanging baskets, and their cheerful blooms can last well into the cooler months.

How Late Can You Plant Flowers in the Fall?

You can typically plant fall flowers until about 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date in your area, but hardy options like pansies, violas, ornamental cabbage, and kale can often be planted even after the first frost if the ground isn’t frozen yet.

Always consider your local climate and flower requirements, and consult a local garden center, nursery, or other gardening resources for precise timing.

When Should I Plant Fall Planters?

Plant fall planters approximately 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost date in your region to ensure your arrangements have time to establish and thrive before colder temperatures arrive.

What are Some Planter Ideas for Fall?

A great tip to make your containers look even more full and colorful for fall is to mix pumpkins and gourds in with your plants. I’ve saved a lot of money on flowers this way.

This fall planter idea will save you even more money if you grow your own pumpkins and gourds from seed.

I hope these seasonal flower ideas have inspired you to grow your own after seeing these fabulous plants for fall planters.

If you have any questions or additional suggestions, feel free to share them in the comments below. And be sure to share this blog post link with anyone who may find these gardening tips useful.

Until next time.

Happy Fall Gardening!

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