32 Best Fall Flowers and Plants to Perk up an Autumn Garden
Enjoy a second wave of beauty with a bevy of fall blossoms!
When summer flowers begin to fade, you don't have to consign yourself to a bare garden. There are plenty of fall flowers to plant that are hardy enough to withstand cool nights and the occasional light frost too.
Even better, some fall-blooming flowers are perennials, so they'll return every year, giving you reliability and value for your labor! (Here's a quick refresher on annuals vs. perennials.) Just make sure that the perennial fall flowers you choose can withstand winters in your USDA Hardiness Zone. (Find yours here.) As long as you get them planted several weeks before the ground begins to freeze, they'll be fine.
Also, just because summer has passed doesn't mean you can skip out on paying close attention to your plant's watering needs. Fall can still bring some hot, dry days that can be hard on plants, so don't forget to water your green spaces if you haven't had enough rain. If you've purchased fall flowers for pots, keep in mind that container plants dry out much faster than those in the ground.
Are you still searching for ways to maximize your garden efforts? Consider investing in some evergreen shrubs (you'll thank us come wintertime). And, while you've got your hands in the dirt, fall is also the ideal time to plant many spring-blooming bulbs, which will give you a jump on the next year's growing season.
Now, for our favorite fall flowers and plants to add interest to autumn gardens.
Goldenrod
The bright yellow blooms of goldenrod are perfect for a fall color palette. Not to be confused with ragweed, this late-blooming North American perennial wildflower is a magnet for bees. It can bloom from late August to early October (in one of our editors' gardens, it reliably blooms in late September). It's on the taller side and only showy when in bloom, so pair it with a pretty border.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 8
Sweet Alyssum
A sun-loving plant that handle a little shade, sweet alyssum looks amazing tumbling out of outdoor hanging baskets and window boxes or cascading over a wall. Also a spring bloomer, this cool weather-loving plant puts on a repeat performance come autumn and will even survive a light frost. Its flowers come in pure white and shades of pink and purple, with a delicate scent. Did we mention pollinators also adore it?
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11 (short-lived perennial); 5 to 8 (annual)
Snapdragon
Looking for a real showstopper? Snapdragons love cooler autumn temps. If you live where winters are mild, they might even bloom through winter. This short-lived perennial is often treated as an annual, so don't worry about the hardiness zone too much.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 11
Aster
Asters are late bloomers that will help your garden transition from summer to fall without missing a beat. Available in purple, blue, white, and pink, these daisy-like flowers also attract tons of pollinators so you'll enjoy the blooms and their visitors. Plant in full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Heuchera
Think beyond the bloom for your fall garden. This perennial is grown mainly for its gorgeous, saturated foliage which comes in every shade from lemony yellow to watermelon red. It's versatile and keeps its leaf color from spring to the first hard freeze.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Autumn Joy Sedum
There are many types of sedums, but this autumn variety is known for its upright form (they can grow up to two feet tall and three feet wide) and bright pink flowers in late summer and early fall. The blooms on this fall perennial last for weeks, and pollinators love them!
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Related: How to Care for Autumn Joy Sedum
Dahlia
These gorgeous flowers come in an array of sizes from tiny buttons and balls to giant dinner plate-sized flowers. In warm climates, leave the bulbs in ground. But in the north, you'll need to dig them up after a hard frost and save the bulbs to replant next spring.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 to 11
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangeas come in many forms, but only the oakleaf variety has bright autumn leaves. Make sure not to prune this shrub in the fall or you will cut off next year's blooms as this plant blooms on what's called "old wood."
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Sunflower
Sunflowers range in size from a few feet to more than 10 feet tall! Plant the seeds in spring for late summer and fall color. And yes, some types have edible seeds you can eat or share with the birds!
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Shrub Rose
Shrub roses, also called landscape roses, are hardy and reliable, and new varieties are more disease resistant. These beauties bloom well all season long, and many types get an especially beautiful flush of blooms in early to mid-autumn.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 10
Burning Bush
This hardy bush turns a brilliant red in fall, earning its name! Plant as part of a mixed border or privacy screen.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Celosia
Also called cockscomb, this flame-like flower adds a pop of color to any container or garden bed, summer through fall. Its feathery blooms come in an array of bright colors, including yellow, orange, pink, and red.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11
Chokeberry
This bush gets incredible autumn color that makes it a stunning foundation planting or accent in your landscape. Chokeberry (a.k.a Aronia) also boasts spring flowers.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are great for contrasting with autumn flowers, and their interesting seed heads stay intact to provide winter interest.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 5
Black-Eyed Susan
These charming plants look like sunny faces! Black-eyed Susan can be perennial or annual, so read the tag to be sure about what you're buying.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Pansies
Pansies don't mind the cold and will take cold snaps (even an early snow!) in stride. In warm climates, they'll even last through much of the winter.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10
Cyclamen
Cyclamen often are sold as houseplants, but they work as pretty groundcovers in warm climates and will bloom for months.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Dusty Miller
These plants have beautiful, lacy silver foliage that complements other fall flowers such as asters and mums. They're annuals in most of the country but may survive winter in mild climates.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
Beautyberry
Native to the Southeastern U.S., this lesser-known shrub is a must-have. Beautiful blooms lead to these amazing purple berries in fall!
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums, or mums for short, come in every color of the rainbow! They're technically perennials, but they likely won't come back next spring unless you get them in the ground long before autumn. No worries! They're inexpensive enough to treat as annuals.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Related: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Fall Chrysanthemums
Janece Maze is Associate Editor at Country Living, where she covers DIY projects, gardening, and travel. When she’s not in the kitchen creating a new recipe with farm fresh ingredients, you can find her on the road heading to a music festival or browsing a local consignment shop.
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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