16 Fall Container Plants for a Vibrant Splash of Color

Coneflower echinacea flower plant
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Written by Heather Hall

Updated: November 1, 2023

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Looking to add a vibrant splash of color to your fall garden? Look no further! Here are the most stunning fall container plants to match any outdoor decor.

1. Aster

If you are looking for bright, sun-loving fall container plants, asters are for you.

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Asters are a beautiful addition to any container garden. To ensure success, there are a few factors to consider. First, make sure your asters receive good sun exposure. Asters need at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day.

Next, you’ll need to choose the right type of soil for your asters. Look for well-draining soil that has plenty of organic matter. Asters thrive in Zones 3-8.

2. Begonia

A beautiful flower begonia of fuchsia color growing in the pot at the terrace. Planting and gardening concept

There are many different varieties of begonias, and they all grow well in fall containers.

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Growing begonias in containers is a great way to add a splash of color to your indoor or outdoor space. Begonias need bright but filtered light. Place your container outdoors in a spot that is partly shaded throughout the day.

When it comes to soil, begonias prefer a mix of potting soil, compost, and perlite. This mixture should help the soil retain water while still providing good drainage. Finally, begonias can survive in zones 10 and 11, but you can take them indoors for winter if your climate is colder.

3. Mums

vivid red chrysanthemums

Dazzling red chrysanthemums look awesome in a fall container on your porch or patio.

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Gardeners can bring fall color to their homes by planting chrysanthemums as fall container plants. These hardy, sun-loving flowers will bloom for several weeks in cooler temperatures.

To promote the best blooms, choose a planting mix with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Water regularly and feed every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer. Deadheading the spent flowers will also help promote further blooming.

4. Autumn Crocus

Autumn Crocus, Garden, Autumn, Beauty, Blossom

The delicate lily-like flowers of the autumn crocus are a joy to see in the fall.

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Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) is an ideal choice for fall container plants. It is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. The plant blooms in late autumn, producing beautiful flowers in an array of shades, including white, purple, and pink.

For best results, plant autumn crocus in well-drained soil. Before planting, add a layer of compost to the soil and place the bulbs at least 4 inches deep. Be sure to place the container in a spot that receives full sun for at least 6 hours per day.

5. Cosmos

If you love pollinators, consider planting cosmos as a fall container plant.

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Cosmos is a fun choice for fall container plants. Their colorful, daisy-like flowers come in a variety of shades and sizes, and they thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. They bloom from summer until the first hard freeze in the fall.

To get the best results, mix in compost or aged manure to the soil and water the plants regularly. Deadhead flowers to promote new blooms and trim the plants back.

6. Globe Amaranth

Globe amaranth in basket

Gomphrena globosa, or globe amaranth, is a lovely fall container plant.

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Grow beautiful globe amaranth as fall container plants for a gorgeous look! This easy-to-grow plant is perfect for adding color and texture to your outdoor space. All you need is a sunny area or a pot with excellent drainage. Plant them after the last spring frost, and the blooms will last from late summer until the first frost. Enjoy the vibrant purple, magenta, red, orange, and white of the globe amaranth, and watch your space transform!

7. Helenium

Red Helenium autumnale or sneezeweed, cultivar called 'Moerheim Beauty' seen in a botanical garden

The fire-red helenium makes an attractive display. Plus, butterflies love it!

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Growing helenium (Helenium autumnale) is an excellent way to add a burst of color to your garden in the fall. This perennial blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and red, and it looks great planted in containers. To get the best results, plant helenium in an area that gets full sun and provides well-drained soil. To ensure a long blooming season, give the plants plenty of water and feed them weekly with a balanced fertilizer. Deadheading spent flowers will also help to promote additional flowering. With the right care, helenium will grow 3 feet tall.

8. Impatiens

Potted red and white impatiens in barrel

Potted impatiens will bloom until a hard frost in the fall.

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Planting impatiens in containers is a great way to enjoy them in the fall. To get started, choose a pot with adequate drainage holes. Fill it with potting soil and dig a small hole for each impatiens seedling. Add a slow-release fertilizer to the soil mixture, then carefully place the seedlings in the hole. Gently tamp down the soil and water the seedlings thoroughly. Place the container in an area that receives only morning sun. Keep the soil moist, and in a few weeks, you’ll have a vibrant planter full of beautiful impatiens in red, hot pink, lavender, or white.

9. Marigold

Orange yellow French marigold or Tagetes patula flower on a blurred garden background.Marigolds.

Marigolds are great companion plants to nearly all vegetables, and they are great fall container plants.

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Grow French or African marigolds in containers this fall for a colorful display of flowers. These annuals thrive in sunny, warm spots and come in a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, and mahogany. Plant them in containers with good drainage to ensure they stay healthy. Make sure to water them regularly, but take care not to overwater. To keep them blooming all season, deadhead spent blossoms. Mulch with a 2-3 inch layer of compost to help retain moisture and keep the soil cool. With a bit of care, marigolds will bloom until the first part of winter.

10. Pansy

gardening. planting flowers. gloved hands are planting pansy flowers. perennials

Pansies are readily available in garden centers and very affordable fall container plants.

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Gardening enthusiasts can enjoy spectacular color throughout the fall season by planting pansies (Viola cornuta) in containers. Pansies will produce a profusion of blooms in shades of yellow, orange, purple, and white.

In order to get started, select a sunny spot and prepare the soil with compost or other organic material. Plant the seeds or seedlings about 4-6 inches apart, and then water thoroughly. To encourage growth and help the plants withstand cooler temperatures, use a fertilizer designed for flowering plants.

11. Petunia

Petunias planted in baskets on salvaged bicycle

If you’re looking for a flower that will bloom from summer through to a hard frost, petunias are the one!

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Petunias are an ideal choice for adding color and texture to your fall container garden. Plant petunias in rich, well-drained soil and water regularly to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Add fertilizer to help them bloom, and deadhead flowers regularly to encourage more blooms. Petunias also need plenty of sunshine, so choose a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. There are new cultivars every year in purple, yellow, red, pink, white, multi-colored, or polka dot blooms.

12. Zinnia

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Many newer types of zinnias are double blooms and look a lot like dahlias.

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Zinnias are a popular choice for fall container plants. They come in a variety of bright colors and sizes, making them a beautiful addition to any outdoor space. To get the most out of your zinnias, make sure to plant them in well-draining soil and give them plenty of sunlight. Water them regularly and add fertilizer if needed. Deadheading the flowers will help promote more blooms. With a little bit of care, you can enjoy blooms in orange, yellow, red, pink, purple, or white.

13. Firecracker Flower

Crossandra infundibuliformis. Flowering ornamental plant with orange color

Crossandra infundibuliformis makes a fun, exotic-looking fall container plant.

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Growing Crossandra infundibuliformis, or firecracker flower, as a fall container plant can bring bright, cheerful blooms to your porch or patio. This warm-weather plant thrives in temperatures between 65-85°F, making it an ideal choice for containers in mild climates. It blooms from August until the first hard frost. Many people create topiaries or bonsai with this plant.

14. Coneflower

Purple coneflowers growing in the native plant garden

Echinacea is unfussy. It will happily grow in a container or in the ground. As long as it has sun, it is happy.

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Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) make an attractive and colorful addition to any fall container. The best part is that they are easy to grow, even for beginner gardeners. To get started, select a container with good drainage and fill it with potting soil. Plant the seeds or seedlings in the container, making sure to keep them evenly spaced. Water them regularly and provide bright sunlight. This plant is perennial and will come back year after year.

15. Mexican Bush Sage

Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha)

Plant a fall container of Mexican bush sage near a walkway or doorway so you can smell it when you pass by.

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Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) is an excellent choice for fall container plants. This stunning perennial produces tall spikes of purple, velvety flowers throughout the fall season. Its hardy nature makes it easy to grow, requiring only full sun and well-drained soil. Mexican bush sage also has low water requirements, requiring only occasional watering. If you love supporting pollinators, this is a great plant to help them prepare for winter.

16. Cockscomb

Pink and red celosia coxcomb flowers.

Cockscomb (Celosia) has such vibrantly colored flowers that they are nearly neon.

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Celosia, commonly known as cockscomb, offers vibrant colors and textures to your garden, making it an ideal choice for fall container plants. Plant Celosia in a pot with well-draining soil and position it in an area that receives plenty of sunlight. Water regularly and feed Celosia with a fertilizer every two weeks. Cockscomb flowers are nearly neon in color, and you can buy them in orange, yellow, pink, maroon, purple, red, and white.

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About the Author

Heather Hall is a writer at A-Z Animals, where her primary focus is on plants and animals. Heather has been writing and editing since 2012 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. As a resident of the Pacific Northwest, Heather enjoys hiking, gardening, and trail running through the mountains with her dogs.

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