20 Best Fall Flowers to Plant for Autumnal Color

Annual and Perennial Flowers for Adding Fall Interest

By
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.

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Updated on 04/07/22
Reviewed by
Sonya Harris
Sonya Harris
Reviewed by Sonya Harris

Sonya Harris is an award-winning gardening expert with two decades of experience teaching and sharing her extensive knowledge about small space gardening. She is a Master Gardener and founder of the award-winning Bullock Garden Project in New Jersey. Sonya has written for Martha Stewart Living's site, won South Jersey Magazine’s One to Watch Award, and is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
red salvia and fall flowers

The Spruce / Margot Cavin 

Think about planting fall flowers when planning your landscaping. While trees and shrubs with colorful fall foliage are a prized part of the autumn scene, perennial and annual flowers also add beauty. Fall flowers come in an array of colors, shapes, and sizes suitable for any garden style. Hardy perennial fall flowers bloom when many other plants are done for the season. Hardy choices may persist longest but also make plans to feature some colorful, tender plants like violas or New England asters that are only fall bloomers.

Fall plantings are significant for your garden since the warm soil encourages root growth until the ground freezes. The roots are well established by early spring versus a plant just getting started in the spring. Also, in fall, unsold annuals go on sale. They won't stick around for long if planted in your garden, but you can overwinter them indoors or divide or take cuttings, preparing them indoors for your garden next spring.

Here are 20 fall flowers to keep your landscape blooming into autumn.

Tip

Mid- to late-August is often an excellent time to plant fall flowers, as long as the weather isn't still so hot that the plants will suffer heat stress. But don't wait too late to plant, or you'll have a very short window to enjoy your flowers. Check the growing requirements for each plant.

  • 01 of 20

    Mums (Chrysanthemum spp.)

    Chrysanthemum plant with orange and yellow flowers in sunlight

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Mums are quintessential fall flowers. They start blooming in September and last until frost. And the many species come in various bloom shapes and colors. When selecting mums for fall planting, look for a plant that isn’t in full bloom yet. It will struggle less with transplanting. Make sure to keep the soil moist but not soggy for the best flowering.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Yellow, orange, white, red, purple, bicolors
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Rich, humusy, moist, well-drained
  • 02 of 20

    Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)

    Pot marigold plant with orange daily-like flowers in sunlight

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Marigolds will first bloom in the late spring to early summer. And if you continuously deadhead your plants (remove the spent blooms), they can stay in bloom through fall, though flowering might slow in the peak heat of the summer. These plants feature daisy-like flowers that typically come in yellow or orange. They are typically grown as annuals but might self-seed in your garden. 

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Color Varieties: Yellow, orange, cream, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full, partial
    • Soil Needs: Average, well-drained
  • 03 of 20

    Red Salvia (Salvia splendens)

    Red salvia plant with bright red flower spikes

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Also called scarlet sage, this flower is a tender perennial often grown as an annual outside of its hardiness zones. Its bright red flowers stretch around 2 inches long and grow in clusters on erect stems above the foliage. It can bloom from June until the first fall frost. Plants can be potted in the fall for overwintering indoors.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11
    • Color Varieties: Red
    • Sun Exposure: Full, partial
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
  • 04 of 20

    Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)

    Sweet alyssum with white flower clusters on lance-shaped stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Sweet alyssum spreads with mounds of gray-green, lance-shaped foliage. Its clusters of small, four-petal, sweet-scented flowers first bloom in the spring. Then, the plant will often decline in the heat of summer. Cut it back by half at this point. Once cool temperatures return in the fall, its foliage should perk up again, and it often repeat blooms. You also can plant seeds in August for fall flowers.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: White
    • Sun Exposure: Full, partial
    • Soil Needs: Average, well-drained
    Continue to 5 of 20 below.
  • 05 of 20

    Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp.)

    Nasturtium plant with rounded leaves and small yellow flowers

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Nasturtium species can be annuals or perennials with different shapes, including bushy, climbing, and trailing growth habits. Most plants in the genus feature brightly colored flowers. In general, they flower from May to September, though the exact timing depends on the species and climate. These are typically low-maintenance plants, appreciating watering during periods of drought.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Color Varieties: Red, orange, pink, yellow, cream
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
  • 06 of 20

    Violet (Viola spp.)

    Violet plant with small five-petaled purple flowers on thin stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    There are hundreds of species in the Viola genus. In general, violet refers to the low-growing, mounding plants that spread readily in the garden. Many species struggle in the summer but will revive and bloom in the fall with their showy five-petal flowers. Use a slow-release fertilizer in late summer to encourage fall flowers. 

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Blue, purple, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained
  • 07 of 20

    Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

    Snapdragon plant with tall pink flower spikes and buds closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Snapdragons are tender perennials that are also grown as annuals. They can flower from spring to frost in the fall in cool climates. In climates with hot summers, they often slow down in the heat but pick up with their blooming when cool weather returns. The plants get their common name because the tubular flowers somewhat appear like a dragon's head.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 10
    • Color Varieties: White, yellow, red, orange, pink, purple
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained
  • 08 of 20

    Cockscomb (Celosia argentea)

    Cockscomb plant with bright red feather flowers surrounded with red foliage

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Cockscomb (Celosia argentea) flower heads have a feathery appearance in a rainbow of bright yellow, warm orange, scarlet red, and deep burgundy or purple accents for fabulous fall color. This annual stretches around 4 to 10 inches long with densely packed blooms on upright stems. Its usual bloom time is mid-summer lasting until the first frost. You can start seeds indoors roughly six to eight weeks before your area’s projected last frost date in the spring for earlier bloom.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Color Varieties: Red
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
    Continue to 9 of 20 below.
  • 09 of 20

    New England Asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

    New England aster plant with white daisy-like flowers and butterfly on top

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    New England asters bring vivid color to their showy flowers in the late summer and early fall. The flowers have a daisy-like look, stretching almost 2 inches across. Pink to purple petals extend out from bright golden centers. They can be planted all season, from spring to fall. Plants will often self-seed if you leave the spent flower heads on; otherwise, you can cut the plants to the ground for a tidier look.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Pink-purple, purple
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Average, well-drained
  • 10 of 20

    Nippon Daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum)

    Nipponanthemum nipponicum
    igaguri_1 / Getty Images

    The Nippon daisy, also known as the Montauk daisy, blooms in the late summer to early fall. The flowers, which feature white petals and green centers, form on long stems and stretch around 2 to 3 inches across. They tend to make long-lasting cut flowers. To encourage continued blooming, deadhead the spent flowers. Plant it in the early spring or fall.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: White
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Average, well-drained
  • 11 of 20

    Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

    Goldenrod plant with tiny yellow clusters on upright stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Goldenrod is a perennial wildflower that blooms from mid-summer to fall. Its tiny yellow blooms form in clusters on upright stems, and they are pretty attractive to butterflies and bees. Remove the spent flower clusters to prolong blooming. It is usually planted in the spring or fall.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Average, well-drained
  • 12 of 20

    Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)

    Joe Pye weed with tall stems and pink flower clusters

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Joe Pye weed is another perennial wildflower that grows in upright clumps. It blooms from mid-summer to early fall with domed clusters of tiny flowers. The blooms have a pleasant vanilla scent. Cut your plants to the ground in the winter to maintain vigorous growth.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Mauve, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full, partial
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
    Continue to 13 of 20 below.
  • 13 of 20

    Bluebeard (Caryopteris × clandonensis)

    Bluebeard plant with tiny purple flower clusters closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Bluebeard, also known as blue mist, blooms roughly from July to September. It’s a small, mounded shrub with aromatic foliage. The flowers come in tiny clusters that resemble clouds of blue mist on the plant, hence its common name. Ensure your plant has good soil drainage; it does not tolerate soggy soil.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Blue, purple, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-drained
  • 14 of 20

    Autumn Joy Stonecrop (Hylotelephium telephium 'Herbstfreude' (‘Autumn Joy’)

    'Autumn Joy' stonecrop plant with dense pink flower clusters on tall stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    'Autumn Joy' stonecrop is a hardy, low-maintenance plant that can thrive in many different growing conditions. It prefers soil with sharp drainage. The plant blooms with small, star-shaped flowers that start pink but darken to red in the fall. Pinch the plant back in the spring to encourage bushier growth. It's best planted in the spring to deliver fall garden splendor.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Pink, red
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Sandy, well-drained
  • 15 of 20

    Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale)

    Autumn crocus plant with light purple blooms in sunlight

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    The autumn crocus grows from a bulb that You must plant in well-drained soil. Plant it in the late summer for fall bloom. The bulb sends up foliage only in the spring, which dies back by summer. Fall flowers rise on bare stems. 

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Lavender-pink, lilac-pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full, partial
    • Soil Needs: Rich, medium moisture, well-drained
  • 16 of 20

    Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

    Russian sage plant with dense stems full of tiny purple tubular flowers

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Russian sage is a woody perennial with gray-green foliage that is aromatic when crushed. It has a long blooming period from mid-summer through fall with clusters of small, tubular flowers. While Russian sage can tolerate a bit of shade, the stems might flop over without enough sun, and flowering will likely be diminished. Cut plants back in the early spring for renewed growth.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Blue, lavender
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained
    Continue to 17 of 20 below.
  • 17 of 20

    Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

    Sunflower plant with large radiating yellow petals on tall stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Sunflowers are a show-stopping annual that makes a great addition to any garden. Their blooms can stretch 3 to 6 inches wide atop tall stems. And they typically feature yellow petals with brown centers. Different sunflower varieties bloom at different times. Many start blooming in the mid- to late summer and stretch into fall. Consider harvesting seeds from the flower heads to plant the following growing season. 

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Color Varieties: Yellow, red, brown
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Average, moist, well-drained
  • 18 of 20

    Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)

    Sneezeweed plant with clump-forming yellow flowers in sunlight

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Helenium or sneezeweed is a clump-forming perennial wildflower with a long blooming period. Its flowers arrive in the late summer and can last until the first frost of fall. The daisy-like blooms stretch around 2 inches across and have domed centers. Cut back the plants at least six weeks before blooming is set to begin. Pruning will encourage more branching and thus more flowers.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Red, yellow, orange, gold, copper
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained
  • 19 of 20

    Petunia (Petunia spp.)

    Petunia plant with light pink and purple funnel-shaped flowers

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Petunias are tender perennials that are commonly grown as annuals in most climates. The flowers are generally large and funnel-shaped, coming in various colors. They can bloom from late spring until frost in the fall, though they might slow down in the heat of summer. If your petunias decline in the summertime, cut them back. Trimming will encourage them to bloom again in the fall. 

    • USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11
    • Color Varieties: Red, yellow, orange, pink, purple, white, green
    • Sun Exposure: Full, partial
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained
  • 20 of 20

    Blanket Flower (Gaillardia x Grandiflora)

    Blanket flower with red and yellow daisy-like flowers in sunlight

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Blanket flowers are a perennial hybrid with a fast growth rate and a long blooming period from late spring to fall. The bright, showy, daisy-like flowers can stretch 3 to 4 inches across, and they form above the foliage on upright stems. If flowering slows in the summer, cut back the plants to encourage fall flowers. 

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Red, yellow, orange
    • Sun Exposure: Full
    • Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-drained
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