9 Flowers to Plant in October

Depending on where you live, there are a number of different flowers to plant in October. Many avid gardeners consider this time of year as the time to set up your beautiful spring garden in flower beds, but what flowers can you safely plant during the month of October so that you can maximize your growing year and potential? 

In this article, we will give you some of the best flowers to plant in the month of October as well as where these flowers best grow. We will even give you some tips as to whether or not you can grow these flowers from seed, or if purchasing an established plant is best. Let’s get started and talk about all of these fall blooms now! 

The Best Flowers to Plant in October

Many of the flowers that grow best in the month of October grow from bulbs, sprouting and blooming in springtime. However, there are also some flowers that you can plant as established plants in your October landscaping. Let’s check out some of the most beautiful and winter-hardy flowers available for planting in October now. 

Pansies

Ideally planted as container flowers and backyard landscaping edging, pansies are ideally planted from starts found at your local nursery or garden store. You can grow pansies from seed, but it can take some time indoors, and it is often more fun to choose color combinations that go well with each other. However, pansies thrive in cold temperatures and often maintain their blooms until early winter, making them perfect for planting in October! 

Mums

Similarly to pansies, chrysanthemums or mums are best planted in October from an established plant rather than from seed. Keep in mind that these beautiful blooms can’t typically survive winter weather conditions, but you can keep your mum plants living longer if you bring them indoors. These flowers come in a variety of jewel tones and fall colors, likely matching and enhancing your natural landscape! 

Tulips

Sprouting in early spring, October is a great time to get your tulip bulbs planted and established in the earth. These springtime favorites need winter weather and temperatures in order to germinate properly, but make sure to plant these bulbs six to eight weeks before your first frost date. Available in countless colors and styles, tulips are an easy way to bring some unique aesthetics to your garden. 

Daffodils

Strikingly similar to tulips in the way they like to grow, daffodils are another early spring favorite. These bulbs also need all winter long to germinate, but they tend to sprout a little bit sooner in the springtime compared to tulips. Daffodils are also deer resistant and cheery, featuring beautiful yellow petals and unique trumpet shaped centers. Not to be confused with Jonquils or narcissus flowers, daffodils are popular around the world and often represent the essence of spring! 

Echinacea

Also known as coneflowers, echinacea plants grow best in hardiness zones 3 through 9. These flowers come in a variety of colors and can reach up to 4 feet tall, making them ideal in a number of backyard landscaping and gardens. You can grow echinacea plants from seed, but it is easier to find established plants that already have flowers on them. Coneflowers grown from seed often take more time to produce blooms, and you likely want these beautiful flowers earlier rather than later! 

Sedum

Technically a variety of succulent, sedum plants are perfect when planted in the fall as established plants or cuttings. Make sure to plant in full sunlight if you live somewhere with especially harsh winters, as sedum plants struggle in hardiness zones 5 or below. However, these succulents sprout beautiful blooms that turn into gorgeous seed heads, perfect for a fall garden and harvest accent. 

Asters

Technically a September flower, asters can still be planted in October with decent success. Make sure to purchase an established plant rather than growing from seed, as you need to plant these blooms quickly to avoid any complications with winter frost conditions. These daisy-like blooms come in a variety of colors and are attractively clustered together, making them eye-catching and delicate in any landscaping or garden. 

Crocuses

Just like daffodils and tulips, crocuses are a bulb ideally planted in October. These flowers often sprout in winter time, when snow is still present and nothing else is growing. Crocuses are short and low to the ground, and look best when planted en masse. You can create a unique winter ground cover with crocus bulbs, as they bloom out of the snow one by one! There are a number of crocus varieties and colors, which means you can design a winter garden to your heart’s content. 

Cosmos

While the blooms may not last very long as winter frost kills them, cosmos flowers are technically the flower for the month of October. You can plant cosmos from established plants in the fall time, enjoying their delicate blooms before they actively reseed themselves. Given that this particular flower is capable of coming back year after year, you may find that by planting a single cosmos plant, you end up with too many flowers once spring time arrives! 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Olga U