The 20 Best Flowers to Plant in the Fall

There's nothing quite like the crisp fall air, seeing the leaves start to fall, sipping on warm apple cider, and planting some flowers. Yes, fall can be a time to get out in the garden and add some new colors and plants.

While it may seem like fall is the time of year that growing starts to slow down, there are actually quite a few plants that flower well into the season, and some even prefer being planted in the fall so they have time to pop up out of the ground come spring.

Gear up for some doses of fall color, because we've rounded up the 20 best plants to add to your garden come fall.

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Chrysanthemums

These cheery yellow blooms not only match the falling leaves, but they're edible, too. You can use the dried blooms to brew tea, and it will taste similar to chamomile. These tend to bloom in early to late fall, so they'll stick around to add a dose of color to your garden.

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Sweet Alyssum

Looking to add a trailing flower to your garden or planters? Sweet alyssum is an incredible option. These dainty little blooms spill over the edges of pots and planters easily, and they come in both white and purple. They should bloom through late October, and you can help encourage blooming by removing any dead flowers.

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Echinacea

These tall beauties will attract both bees and butterflies as they bloom through late September. Echinacea flowers can grow to be around three feet tall, making a big statement wherever you put them. If you choose to sow seeds for these flowers, do it in the fall so they emerge happily and healthily in the spring.

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Black-Eyed Susans

For bright yellow blooms year after year, opt for Black-Eyed Susans. They get their name from their dark brown (almost black) centers. These yellow flowers will bloom through late September.

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Aster Flowers

How cute are the delicate petals on the aster flower? Not only do these daisy-like blooms thrive in the early and late fall, but they're deer resistant as well. You can even get them in different colors, like white, purple, or pink if you'd like. They're also great for attracting pollinators.

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Ranunculus

Ranunculus blooms won't last all the way through fall, but if you plant them then, they're sure to bring joy come spring. Their bright, fluffy flowers fill out gardens like no other, and they'll flower for about six or seven weeks straight come spring.

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Begonias

Begonias may not be the first plant that comes to mind when planting a garden, but these hardy plants can survive a ton of different conditions. Depending on the variety, begonias can flower from the summer through the first frost, making them a great choice for fall gardens.

You can also opt for a more foliage-focused begonia, like the begonia rex, which has gorgeous burgundy-pink leaves.

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Allium

While most plants start to wind down in September, alliums are gearing up for a big bloom. These flowers produce fluffy balls of blooms, which can be as large as softballs.

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Dahlias

With thick, luscious layers of petals, it'll be hard to take your eyes the dahlias you plant in your garden. They come in red, yellow, orange, purple, and more, so you'll have plenty of moody fall hues to pick from. They'll bloom from late summer through fall, too.

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Sunflowers

If you want to literally take your garden to new heights, plant some sunflowers. Not only will they grow to be around 6 feet tall (or up to 14 feet, depending on the variety), but they'll fill out your garden well. You can even harvest the seeds from the dried flowers to plant more next year (or roast them for a snack).

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Zinnias

These deer-resistant flowers will last through the first frost of fall. Zinnias are thick blooms that almost like being cut back—using them in bouquets and cutting some for arrangement actually encourages more blooming.

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Anemone

Anemones add a delicate touch to your garden with their thin petals and spindly stems. You can pick from a variety of colors, and they'll bloom through fall.

You could even dry and press these flowers to create some décor, too.

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Ornamental Cabbage

Sure, cabbage may not be your first "flower" choice, but this plant can literally live through the snow. As things start to turn brown, ornamental cabbage (also called flowering kale), stays bright and cheery, and they add some funk to your flower box.

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Ornamental Grasses

Grass may not seem exciting, but you have to love how easy it is to grow. Ornamental grasses often have a "poof" at the end, adding excellent texture and height to your garden. Plus, there couldn't be a more low-maintenance plant. Think of it as the pampas grass of your garden.

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Sedum Autumn Joy

Like the name suggests, sedum autumn joy thrives in the fall. The bright red buds are a pop of color against a neutral landscape, blooming into November. They'll come back year after year, too, so no need to replant each season.

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Mums

Fall isn't happening if there aren't mums around. These are perhaps the most popular fall flower, and you can buy them at your local hardware store or garden center. Use them to line your garden bed for thick, flowering borders, or add them to a planter on your porch for a punch of color.

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Violas

They may seem like a summer flower, but violas actually bloom well into fall. We're big fans of the deep purple and red varieties in the fall, as they add a moody element to any garden or planter.

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Carnations

Not only are carnations pretty cheap, they make a mean flower arrangement. Plant these in the late summer for a longer growing season.

Remember to deadhead any wilted blooms to promote new growth.

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Dusty Miller

While this technically doesn't look like a flower, dusty miller plants produce bright yellow blooms in the fall. The icy-colored leaves are a stark contrast to green stalks and stems, and they'll look just as great in pots as they do in flower beds.

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Hydrangeas

Oh, the reliable hydrangea. There's nothing that quite compares to these bushy blooms, and we love the dark pink hues of fall flowers. Fall varieties of the plant tend to produce darker flowers, but there are some that produce white and peachy blooms into the cooler months, too.

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