Like many busy moms, I love keeping my porch and patio looking beautiful all year round with container gardens.
As the summer heat fades and cooler temperatures arrive, I’ve learned which plants can keep my outdoor space looking gorgeous well into fall.
Here are my 10 favorite fall container plants!
Top 10 Plants for Your Fall Containers
1. Aster
I absolutely adore asters in my fall containers! These cheerful little flowers remind me of colorful daisies, and they come in the prettiest shades of white, purple, blue, and pink.
My kids love watching the butterflies and bees that these flowers attract to our porch.
The best part? Once fall is over, you can plant them right in your garden, where they’ll come back year after year in most climates.
2. Begonia
Begonias have been my go-to plant for years, especially the “Non-Stop” varieties.
These sturdy plants have thick, glossy leaves and produce tons of gorgeous blooms that last until the first frost hits.
I love how they keep flowering even when other plants start giving up for the season.
3. Cosmos
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance flower that gives you tons of bang for your buck, cosmos are your answer!
Their delicate, ferny leaves create the perfect backdrop for daisy-like flowers in amazing colors like crimson, pink, and even chocolate brown.
Here’s a mom-hack: pinch the stems back after the first blooms fade – it keeps them bushier and produces even more flowers!
4. Helenium
Don’t let the funny nickname “sneezeweed” fool you – these beauties are fall container superstars!
The flowers come in the most perfect autumn colors: red, yellow, bronze, and copper.
I plant these in my sunniest spots, and they grow into impressive three-foot-tall showstoppers that scream “fall is here!”
5. Pansy
Pansies are like the tough little soldiers of the flower world.
While they might wilt in summer heat, they absolutely shine when temperatures cool down.
For my southern friends, these troopers can even survive winter and bloom again in spring!
6. Petunia
Living in a warmer climate? Petunias might be your new best friend!
These colorful flowers keep blooming through fall and even winter in frost-free areas.
Just remember to bring them inside during cold snaps – think of it as tucking them in for a cozy sleepover!
7. Zinnia
My kids call these our “rainbow flowers” because they come in practically every color imaginable.
They’re real troopers, blooming from spring until frost, and they actually perk up during dry fall weather.
Just snip off the dead flowers (my kids love helping with this), and they’ll keep producing new blooms.
8. Crossandra
Also known as firecracker flowers (which my little ones think is the coolest name ever!), these plants bring stunning orange blooms starting in late August.
They’re perfect for those lingering hot days because they can handle the heat as long as you keep them watered.
I love pairing them with small evergreen plants for a gorgeous fall display.
9. Echinacea (Coneflower)
These hardy perennials are like the energizer bunny of fall flowers – they just keep going and going!
The newer varieties come in gorgeous sunset colors that perfectly match fall décor.
My top tip: remove dead flowers to keep fresh blooms coming until frost.
10. Snapdragon
Remember playing with snapdragons as a kid, making them “talk” by squeezing their sides?
These nostalgic flowers actually prefer cooler weather, making them perfect for fall containers.
If you live in a warmer area (Zone 7 or above), they might even survive winter to bloom again in spring!