9 Beautiful Fall Container Plants To Grow Other Than Mums

As the seasons begin to change, you may be wondering how to spruce up your fading summer container garden. Incorporating late-blooming flowers and plants into your containers is a quick and resourceful way to reanimate a garden area overrun with spent summer annuals and dead leaves. There are many reasons to extend your blooming season well into the first frost. Not only is it a great way to revive planters that look rough and unkempt, but it also allows gardeners to switch up their aesthetic, whether that means choosing plants that have different textures and shapes or welcoming in the autumnal vibes with a warmer color scheme. Though mums might be a go-to choice for fall container gardens, they're not the only plant for dropping temperatures. There are a ton of flowering and foliage plants you can add to your garden that appreciate the change of season.

When picking the best flowers and plants for your fall containers, there are some considerations you need to make. It's important to choose plants that thrive in colder temperatures and light frost. You don't want to deal with any wilting, fading, or dying. Bonus points if your plant is completely frost-resistant, which can mean a range a things depending on your location — for example, plants with evergreen foliage or that are cold hardy enough to bloom into winter. Surprisingly, the leaves of some plants will get more vibrant as it gets chillier. You also want to stick to plants that can handle shorter days. These plants don't mind fall's longer hours of darkness, and may actually fail to blossom if they receive more than 12 hours of light per day.

After mums, asters are the second most popular choice when it comes to flowers for fall containers. The blossoms of these perennial plants resemble stars, with glimmering petals emanating from a central disk. Plants in the Aster genus are native to Europe and Asia. Asters native to North America belong to the Symphyotrichum and Eurybia genera. They will bloom into the fall. New England asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) and New York asters (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii) are two options that will do well in your container garden. Just make sure to provide your plant with soil that is moist, well-draining, and slightly acidic.

Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) are beautiful flowers you can plant now for colorful blooms that last into winter. Their flowers come in bright colors, like yellow, deep purple, and orange. They're perfect if you're looking for a plant that will seamlessly evoke a fall palette. Pansies are short-lived perennials, frequently grown as annuals, and are a go-to choice for fall containers because they handle cool weather well. They like fertile, moist soil with proper drainage. Try not to grow too many pansies in one container or you'll risk overcrowding. Up to four plants are ideal for a 10- to 12-inch pot.

Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina) is an excellent filler choice for your mixed fall containers. Known for its silvery-green foliage, the fuzzy feel of this plant will add a tactile textural dimension to your container garden. Hardy in Zones 4 to 8, lamb's ear cannot stand moist soil, as it is prone to root rot. It's native to dry and temperate climates in countries like Armenia, Turkey, and Iran, after all. This perennial needs a location that gets full sun to partial shade. While lamb's ear can tolerate cold temperatures, it may die back in winter in some areas.

Ornamental cabbage and kale (Brassica oleracea) can offer bold seasonal color if you're sick of mums. These foliage plants are related to edible cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. The biggest draw to ornamental cabbage and kale is their leaves; they boast large rosettes that are either frilly or ruffled. You can find varieties in shades of lavender, cream, and magenta. As the temperature dips, their colors will only get more vibrant, especially under 50 degrees Fahrenheit. These plants appreciate soil that is fertile and moist.

With varieties growing up to 4 feet tall, snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are cool-season flowers that will be a welcome addition to your fall container. Hardy in Zones 7 through 11, most gardeners treat snapdragons as an annual. There are lots of snapdragon varieties out there: You can choose one that is low-growing or tall and spiky. Stick to snapdragons that are classified in Groups 1 and 2 for fall containers, as they are better able to handle the shorter days and decreased light. Make sure your pot has fertile, well-draining soil in a location that gets at least six hours of sun.

Dahlias (Dahlia spp.) are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America, so you might assume they would make a fuss in cooler weather. But their blooming season can last until the first frost. For fall containers, it's best to stick to short and dwarf varieties of dahlias, since the taller varieties can get unwieldy in pots. 'Gallery' dahlias will stay under 2 feet tall, and come in colors like pink and red. Hardy in Zones 7 through 10, dahlias should be planted in fertile, moist, well-draining soil. Put their planter in an area where they will receive between six to eight hours of sun.

With their daisy-like petals in maroon, orange, and gold, sneezeweed (Helenium spp.) seems tailor-made for fall containers. Native to the U.S. and Canada, this perennial plant grows 2 to 5 feet tall and will blossom in late summer to midfall. Sneezeweed can handle different soil types, though it prefers rich and well-draining soil. And don't be fooled by the name: The plant will not cause allergic reactions. It's so-called because it was once used in traditional medicine. However, all sneezeweed varieties are poisonous if ingested, so be careful where you place your pot if you live with children and pets.

While stonecrops (Sedum spp.) can be grown as a ground cover in gardens, consider including this succulent perennial in your fall container. You can find easy-care stonecrops that are low-growing or upright. Their clusters of star-shaped flowers bloom into the fall, offering a splash of color and drama during the cooler months. Their flowers will also attract pollinators to your garden. Stonecrops prefer well-draining soil and can adapt to a variety of growing conditions. Check out 'Dragon's Blood' sedum (Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood'), whose plum foliage changes to red by fall.

If you're looking for a plant that will provide some verticality to your fall container, blue fescue (Festuca glauca) might be just what you need. This cool-season grass boasts blue-silver foliage that will turn green by the fall. Though this ornamental grass makes a good ground cover companion, it will provide texture and movement as an accent in your container arrangement. Avoid soggy roots by planting blue fescue in well-draining soil and a pot with ample drainage holes. Blue fescue is a low-maintenance plant so long as it receives six to eight hours of sun daily.