The 18 Best Fall Flowers To Plant In Pots

As we meander further into the mild days of fall, there are still plenty of flowers in bloom. Whether you have limited space or you simply desire more color on your front porch, flower pots can be a lovely addition to your outdoor space. It gives you the opportunity to support pollinators for longer, extend the gardening season, and enjoy fragrant blooms well into fall. From mums to nasturtiums to marigolds, there are countless options to choose from. We rounded up 18 great options to plant in pots for the fall.

While every flower on this list stands alone as a show stopper, many of them can be combined with other plants in different "recipes" to create a truly dynamic container garden. When you're cooking up a custom fall flower pot, a good rule of thumb is combining a blooming plant, a draping plant, and a bushy plant or two for a robust presentation. For example you could pair orange snapdragons with white peacock ornamental kale and white-and-green variegated English ivy for a festive container. The options are endless. Start by picking your blooming plant from the list below and you're well on your way to a lovely fall filled with flowers.

Blooming in shades of creamy orange, soft pink, and muted yellow from summer into fall, the lantana flower (Lantana spp.) is a lovely addition to any container garden. This plant features bushy foliage and clustered, showy flowers. Lantanas are perennials in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11 but can grow as annuals in colder areas. They're tough as nails thriving through drought, varied soil conditions, and even pesky deer. To plant in a container, simply pick up a nursery pot and transplant with lightweight potting mix. Feel free to include sand, vermiculite, or perlite for better drainage. 

Fall and chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) are synonymous at this time. They bloom in brilliant displays of orange, white, or yellow from fall to summer. Mums are generally hardy in zones 5 through 9. However, there are two categories this plant falls into: Garden mums and florist mums. While garden mums can be perennials, florist mums (also known as potted mums), are typically treated as annuals. It's not hard to find beautiful containers of florist mums everywhere from your local grocery store to your favorite garden center. Be sure to dead head blooms for flowers all through fall.

Fields filled with tall, vibrant yellow blooms is a quintessential summer scene. You can capture this essence on your front porch by including common sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) in your container garden, as they can bloom into fall. Classic sunflowers feature a large brow disc haloed by yellow, daisy-like petals. But there are plenty of other cultivars such as the fluffy, all yellow 'Teddy Bear Dwarf' and the rusty-orange 'Autumn Beauty'. While you can sow sunflowers seeds in the spring, many nurseries sell dwarf cultivars in pots. Transfer your plant into a suitable container and place somewhere sunny. 

Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) are another iconic fall staple. Featuring orange, red, or yellow blooms, this flower can be an annual or perennial depending on the variety. It's hardy in zones 2 through 11, blooming generously from spring all the way to fall. To plant your marigold in a container, find a pot with good drainage, and amend soil with components such as perlite, vermiculite, or bark for better drainage. After you loosen its roots, transplant your nursery plant directly into the new container. Place somewhere it can receive full sunlight.

If you're looking for a taller bloom, you might want to add blazing star (Liatris spicata) flowers to your fall container mix. It can grow between 3 to 6 feet tall. This easy-to-grow perennial is suitable for zones 3 through 8. To enjoy in your fall garden, it's best to plant a potted blazing star in your container around spring. Place in a spot that receives 6 hours or more sunlight a day. You'll enjoy blooms from summer into September.

The firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis) is considered a deciduous shrub in zones 9 through 11. However, it's still an excellent candidate for your fall containers with its coral-red, tubular flowers. Growing in weeping tendrils up to 6 feet long, this plant happily sprawls out in a garden. It's better contained when grown in pots or hanging baskets. In fact, your firecracker plant can bloom more when kept slightly root-bound. It's best to transplant this shrub during its winter dormancy. Consider plopping your nursery pot directly into an attractive container for now and repotting when the weather gets cold.

Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are another unique bloom perfect for a fall flower pot. This perennial is suitable for zones 8 through 11 but is often treated as an annual elsewhere. It grows 6 inch to 3 foot flower stalks that open up into an explosion of "snapping" two-lipped blooms. Snapdragons are cool-weather plants. For gorgeous fall blooms, you can transplant nursery starts into containers once the weather grows mild. Establish your plant in well-drained, highly organic potting soil and place your pot in a sunny spot for the most impressive blooms.

Million bells or mini petunias (Calibrachoa (group)) feature cup-shaped blooms in a wide variety of colors. They make for a lovely plant for fall containers since they bloom prolifically from spring all the way to frost. Million bells are considered annuals in most regions but can be cultivated as short-lived perennials in zones 9 through 11. With their trailing tendrils of blooms , these flowers are the perfect addition to a fall hanging basket. Plant a potted plant or cutting in moist potting soil and amend with organic matter. Place in a sunny spot and enjoy.

Another long-blooming flower you should consider for your fall containers is the verbena (Verbena spp.). There are an array of options to choose from. Some varieties are tall and bushy while others are short and trailing. Its small, clustered flowers also come in varied colors and shapes. This gives you a lot of room to play when designing your fall containers. Although these resilient flowers can grow as perennials in zones 4 through 11, they are treated as annuals in most cases. Transplant cuttings or nursery plants in well-drained soil to grow in containers. 

Loved for their vibrant, warm blooms and unique foliage, nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) are another favorite for fall containers. As an added bonus, the entire plant is edible and they're a superstar companion plant. They bloom from summer into fall and are treated as annuals in most regions. It's best to sow nasturtium seeds directly in the spring due to their fragile roots. However, they are available as nursery pots too if you would like to include them in your container garden this year. Be sure to water your nasturtiums regularly for the best blooms. 

Stonecrop (Sedum spp.) offers clustered, star-shaped blooms that last from summer into fall. This perennial grows in zones 3 through 9, thriving in most conditions. It's a succulent but as long as it's in a location with full sun, it grows generously and may even overwinter outside. If you choose to include this plant in your container garden, you can establish plugs or even cuttings directly in the soil. Be sure to opt for well-drained sandy potting soil for the best growing potential. 

Prized for their orchid-like blooms, nemesia (Nemesia spp.) are another top-tier choice for your fall containers. They come in a range of beautiful colors including fall favorites such as yellow, orange, and red. They can be temperamental in the heat but serve as perfect cold weather annuals. Regions with mild summers can enjoy nemesia blooms from spring all the way to the first frost. When preparing your fall flower container, choose a nursery plant with plenty of closed bloom. Transplant into high quality, all purpose potting soil and place somewhere sunny to enjoy more blooms. 

If you're looking for an easy annual to include in your fall container garden, look no further than sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima). It grows in mounds of fragrant white blooms. Sweet alyssum grows perennially in zones 5 through 9. It can produce flowers year round in mild climates. You can plant from seed in August to enjoy fall blooms, but there are typically plenty of nursery plants available too. If you choose to use a nursery plant, be sure to water it first to reduce undue transplant stress on your sweet alyssum.

Petunias (Petunia spp.) feature a long bloom period perfect for fall container gardening. Their trumpet-shaped blooms come in a multitude of colors and patterns including a striking black cultivar. Petunias will thrive in full sun but can tolerate shade. They bloom well into fall if you're diligent about deadheading spent blooms. They are annuals but can be winter hardy in zones 10 through 11. To use in your fall container garden, plant nursery petunias tightly together in a pot with good drainage. Be sure to put your container somewhere it can receive 5 to 6 hours of sunlight.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is a wonderful addition to your fall container garden. This daisy-like annual flower offers yellow and orange blooms from spring into winter.  The blooms are prized not only for their beauty but also for their medicinal properties. It doesn't require a lot to grow these beauties. They'll take to most potting soils so long as they're well-drained. Calendulas can grow in partial shade but prefer full sun. Growing these from seed is extremely beginner-friendly but you have to start them earlier in the year. However, you can purchase blooming plants to repot in the fall. 

Another stunning bloom you might notice your local grocery store or nursery selling en mass during the fall months is woolflower (Celosia spp.). Wool-like, columned blooms burst generously from this plant in a variety of colors. It will grow as an annual in zones 2 through 11 but can survive as a tender perennial in zones 10 through 11. Woolflower blooms from late spring into fall. If you want to include this flower in your container garden, be sure to provide it with 6 hours or more of direct sunlight and good quality potting mix. 

Dianthus (Dianthus spp.) are fragrant, five-petaled flowers that come in a variety of shades including pink, purple, white, and even near-black. While many gardeners plant them to enjoy in the spring, they can bloom for a second time in the fall if well-tended to. Dianthus can be perennial, annual, or biennial depending on the species. It's best to plant annual and biennial dianthus in the spring or summer, but you can successfully plant perennial starts in the fall. To utilize this charming flower in your container garden, opt for rich potting soil. Be sure to place in full sun. 

One last flower you should consider for your fall containers is salvia (Salvia spp.). This spiked flower comes in purples, blues, pinks and more. It's a member of the mint family and is notably easy to grow. Salvias are treated as annuals in many regions but are hardy in zones 5 through 10. They bloom from spring all the way to fall. If you want to use them in your fall container, either sow seeds during the spring or transplant a nursery salvia. When transplanting, burry the root ball as deep as the nursery pot.