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The 30 Best Fall Flowers to Plant in Your Autumn Garden

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Do you want your garden to bloom from Spring all the way through Fall? Well, look no further! I have 30 of the best fall flowers and plants that you can put in your garden to give you gorgeous color all the way to frost!

I love to have color in my garden from the beginning of spring to as far into fall as possible. Some of them you will find here are perennials so all you have to do is plant them once and enjoy them for years to come.

Others will be annuals that you will have to plant each year. Either way, these are great ways to give your fall garden a boost.

Best Fall Flowers

Marigolds

Pretty dark orange and yellow flowers on dark green stems.
Source: Brittanica

Marigolds are an easy to grow annual that blooms all summer. They also are disease resistant and pest resistant which makes them a great choice for gardens.

They are tough and colorful and love the heat so if you live in a warm area this annual would be a great choice. The fragrance of the Marigold is what keeps the deer away.

  • Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
  • Sun Requirements: Full Sun
  • Soil Needs: Moist and well-drained
  • Colors: Yellow, gold, red, orange, and bi-color

Violas

Purple white and yellow flowers on bright green stems.
Source: Love the Garden

Violas come in over 500 varieties, the most popular being the species of pansies. Pansies are typically and most often used in dardens.

Violas are low growing plants that like sunny spots but don’t like the direct sun of summer. They flower in Spring and Autumn and live best in summer in shade from the hottest part of the day.

They prefer well drained soil that dries out between watering. Hardy in zones 3-8 and grow 4-10 inches tall and wide.

Roses

Peach roses with lots of petals and dark green leaves.

When I was young my Mom would never plant roses because she said they were too much work. They have created several varieties that now are super easy to maintain and produce flowers all summer long.

They prefer full sun, if they don’t have enough they won’t produce as many flowers. Roses like slightly acidic soil that drains well. Make sure you water at the base, watering the leaves can make them open to disease.

African Daiseys

Flowers in bright yellow to white with yellow and brown centers.
Source: Outside Pride

African Daisys look a lot like regular daisys but they come in ver vivid colors. They are perenials in zones 10-11, lasing 2-3 years. In other zones they are perennials. Here are some more details

  • Prefer Full Sun
  • Grow 1-3 ft. tall and 1-2 ft. wide
  • Bloom Spring – Fall
  • Like moist, well drained soil

Strawflower

Ball shaped flowers in all different colors with very tiny petals.
Source: Annies Heirloom Seeds

Strawflower grows best in warmer climates. They prefer at least 65-70 degrees during the day and no lower than 60 at night and they do not like frosts.

They can be grown as a perennial in zones 8-11, coming back 2-3 years. Otherwise, they will be an annual.

They grow best in full sun but also do well in part sun. Full sun will allow them to have more blooms. They will grow 2-3 feet tall and 6-18 inches wide.

Black Eyed Susans

A plant with yellow flower petals and a dark brown center.

I had Black Eyed Susan in my last house and just loved it. It’s very hardy, you hardly have to do anything to the plant.

Pollinators love this plant that blooms from June through August. They have bright yellow flowers with a dark brown center and grow from 1-3 feet tall.

Mums

A front porch with large mums in black urns, a fall wreath on the front door, a welcome sign, ferns flanking the front door as well as pumpkins.

Balloon Flower

Pink flowers that open up like a balloon.
Source: Swallow Tail Garden Seeds

Balloon Flowers thrive in rich soil, full sun, and temperatures between 60-80 degrees. Their blooms are 2-3 inches wide and blue/purple, pink, and even white in color.

They bloom in the summer-early fall and prefer full sun. Balloon Flowers are hardy in zones 3-8 and grow 12-30 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide.

Taller varieties might need to be staked before the buds bloom so they don’t flop over.

Golden Rod

Tiny yellow flowers in clusters on dark green stems.
Source: Better Homes and Gardens

Goldenrod brightens up your garden just as other perennials start to weaken. They have large spikey blooms in yellow and gold. Here are some details on Goldenrod:

  • Likes full sun or part sun
  • Hardy in zones 3-9
  • Grows 3-5 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide
  • Pollinators love this plant
  • Deer resistant
  • Drought Tolerant

Dahlias

pink, purple, yellow, and white flowers all mixed together.

Dahlias are one of my favorite flowers and they come in just about every color you can think of. The blooms can range from 2 to 15 inches wide.

Dahlias grow from tubers that are best planted in late spring and bloom late summer through fall. They are native to Mexico and thrive in warmer climates. In zones 8 and up they are perennials.

Sunflowers

long thin yellow petals on green stems with a brown center.
Source: Johnnyseeds

The Sunflower is an annual with a large daisy-like face that blooms in late summer through fall. These flowers can grow up to several feet tall with blooms as large as 6-8 inches wide!

There are tons of varieties of sunflowers in all shapes and sizes. Birds adore this flower for its seeds.

  • Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
  • Sun Requirements: Full Sun
  • Soil Needs: Moist and well-drained
  • Colors: Yellow, Gold, Orange, Cream, and Bi-color

Canna

Dark red flowers on green stems with long dark green leaves.
Source: Morflora

Canna Lilies aren’t actually lilies at all. They actually are closer related to ginger or bananas! The best place to plant them is in a sunny location with well draining soil.

Canna Lilies are native to the US and the blooms resemble Iris blooms. They don’t actually have bulbs but instead rhizomes which are an underground root system.

Cannas are sensitive to cold so don’t plant in the ground until after the threat of frost is gone. In northern states, it might be best to plant indoors and then transfer to the ground.

Verbena

Small clusters of light purple flowers on long green stems.
Source: Quail Seeds

Verbena does really well in hot climates. It can be an annual or a perennial, although a perennial only lasts a few years. They grow relatively fast and depending on the type of plant they can grow to 1 foot tall or 4-5.

Verbena needs full sun and well-drained soil. If they don’t have these they will not do well.

Dianthus

blue-green leaves on a plant with purple flowers weaving around rocks.

I have Dianthus in my garden and I can attest that it is very hardy. My dog has tried many times to kill it by running over it but it still survives!

The foliage is blue/gray in color and the flowers can be white, pink, red, or even purple. They grow in zones 3-9 and bloom all summer long.

Rudbeckia

Orangeish red long thin petals with dark red centers.

Rudbeckia is a common flower often known as Black Eyed Susan. Although they come in many colors and varieties.

They are perennials and hardy in zones 4-9, grow at an average rate, and prefer full sun. Rudbeckia average 2-3 feet high and 1-2 feet wide. Once the plant is established dead head the flowers and stems to promote more blooms.

Helenium

small yellow and red petals with a center of tiny seeds in purple.
Source: Breck’s

Helenium, also called Sneezeweed, is native to the US and Southern Canada. It prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil. They are often found in low-laying areas or the edge of damp woodlands.

Helenium is a perennial and hardy in zones 3-8. It blooms in late summer and fall in yellow, red, and orange.

Helenium grows 3-5 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide.

Witch Hazel

long thin petals in bright yellow with brown stems.

Witch Hazel is a hardy bush/tree that blooms yellow in the wintry landscape. It is native to North America and does best in mild climates.

Witch Hazel prefers full sun and moist, slightly acidic, well-draining soil. It’s hardy in zones 3-9 and grows 15-30 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide.

Witch Hazel has a ton of therapeutic qualities and there are many products on the market that incorporate this planat.

Japanese Anemones

Pink petals with yellow centers.
Source: Meet Yoga Judith

Japanese Anemone is a beautiful perennial that has branching flower stems with white, pink, or purple blooms. It spreads by underground rhizomes but can be easily controlled by cutting off new sprouts.

Japanese Anemone prefers full sun to part shade, moist, well-drained soil, and is hardy in zones 4-8. It grows 2-3 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide. This plant is toxic to humans.

Sedum – aka Stonecrop

Plant with dark pink flowers at the top next to a road.

Sedum is a very popular plant for pollinators and blooms from midsummer to fall. They are considered succulents because of their fleshy stems and leaves. It grows well in shallow soil.

Asters

Purple spikey flowers with yellow cneters.

Asters are gorgeous daisy-like plants that bloom late summer into fall. They are cold-hardy and grow 1-6 feet tall depending on the species (there are over 600!).

I planted Asters in my yard last year and unfortunately the rabbits ate them up. So if you have rabbits you might want to consider putting them in pots so they can’t reach them.

Monkshood

Blue-purple petals on a flower
Source: Mandy’s Nursery

Monkshood is a tall perennial that blooms in late summer to fall. It grows fairly slow and it’s blooms vary in color from deep purple to pink, yellow, or white.

Monkshood prefers full to partial sun and can tolerate part shade fairly well. It’s hardy in zones 3-8, prefers moist, well-drained soil, and grows 2-5 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide.

Unfortunately, Monkshood is toxic to both people and pets.

Gomphrena

Pink ball like flowers on dark green stems.
Source: Redemption Seeds

Gomphrena is a gorgeous fall-shaped flower that blooms from mid-summer to fall. It is an annual that prefers full sun and well-drained soil.

The Gomphrena is very heat tolerant and is a wonderful flower for cutting and placing in flower arrangements.

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

oak leaves in colors of green, yellow, orange and red.
Source: Pennington.com

Oak Leaf Hydrangeas are native the the American Southeast. The flowers are beautiful but the foliage also puts on quite a show! The flowers are deep green then slowly transition to maroon in the fall. Once the leaves fall off beautiful exfoliating stems show off.

They are hardy in zones 5-9 and very easy to grow. Oak Leaf Hydrangeas prefer part shade, especially in warmer climates.

Burning Bush

Burning Bush is named thus because of the gorgeous bright red foliage in the fall. This bush is very popular in North American landscapes. It grows at a moderate pace, adding about a foot a year.

  • Deciduous
  • Grows from 3-20 feet tall and 3-12 feet wide
  • Prefers full to partial sun (more sun gives a brighter red in the fall)
  • Prefers moist but well-drained soil
  • Hardy in zones 4-8

Ornamental Grass

long pieces of grass with redish brown feathery tips.
Source: Brady Nursery

Most ornamental grasses planted in the ground are perennials. They grow well in full to partial shade and come in a ton of different varieties.

Autumn Crocus

Flowers with petals that go from white to purple at the tips and have yellow stamen.
Source: Fun Flower Facts

Autumn Crocus is a fall flowering bulb and while they look much like the spring flowering crocus they are not related.

Autumn Crocus is hardy in zones 4-9 and is a lower flowering bulb that looks best in rock gardens or with other low blooming plants. The bloom colors are purple, pink, white, or yellow.

Autumn Fern

fern leaves that are green but go to red on the tips of the fronds.
Source: Gardeners Path

Autumn Fern stands out this time of year because of its beautiful foliage. It can grow 18-24 inches tall and wide.

It prefers full shade, moist, well-drained soil, and is hardy in zones 5-9.

Ornamental Cabbage

cabbage that is green on the outer leaves and moves to dark purple on the inner leaves.

Ornamental Cabbage is grown similar to regular cabbage but the ornamental variety is grown for its looks, not its taste. It’s actually bitter and mostly just used for garnish.

Ornamental Cabbage is an annual, prefers full sun, grows 12-18 inches tall and wide, and is hardy in zones 2-11.

Red Twig Dogwood

Red Twig Dogwood next to green and yellow-green plants.

Red Twig Dogwood is a showstopper all year. It has spring blossoms, variegated leaves in the summer, berries from summer to fall, and gorgeous red stems in the winter. In the fall the leaves turn gold and then fall to reveal the red stems.

  • Deciduous
  • Grows to 6-9 feet tall and 8-12 feet wide
  • Prefers full to partial sun
  • Likes moist soil
  • Blooms white flowers in the spring
  • Hardy in zones 3-8

Zinnia

Flowers with tiny petals in all colors under the sun.

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As a licensed Real Estate Agent and an avid home decorator, I strive to give my clients the very best I can when it comes to staging, selling, and decorating their homes. I have lots of experience with paint color choices and love to DIY my home so I can have everything just the way I want it. I share my ideas and projects with the world in the hopes that I can help others have their homes just the way they want as well.

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