Fall gardens bloom with vibrant colors and textures as summer fades into cooler days. Fall blooming perennials like garden mums, New England Aster, and Black Eyed Susans bring late-season color to any landscape. At peak growing season, these flowers bloom in purples, fiery red or shades of red, and sunny yellows, thriving in full sun to partial shade.
Ornamental grasses such as Purple Fountain Grass and Prairie Winds add height and movement, while drought-tolerant options like Coral Bells and Ornamental Peppers provide bold autumn colors. Whether in garden beds, mixed borders, or large containers, these fall flowers offer beauty and interest well into the colder months.
Best Flowers for Fall
Create a vibrant autumn oasis with vibrant hues of garden mums or the airy beauty of Purple Fountain Grass. These fall flowers bring a burst of color to any space. Embrace the season with these top picks for a colorful, thriving garden.
Nemesia – Bright Blooms for Cool Seasons

Nemesia is an excellent choice for fall gardens, with its colorful blooms that thrive on cooler days. Its charming, daisy-like flowers come in various shades, including pink flowers, yellow, and white. It is cold tolerant and ideal for garden beds, mixed borders, and window boxes; Nemesia adds vibrant fall color to any landscape.
Nemesia’s aromatic foliage and ability to attract pollinators enhance its appeal. At the same time, its compact size makes it a great companion to ornamental grasses and other fall bloomers like Coral Bells and garden mums.
Growth conditions
- Sunlight: Full sunlight
- Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil.
- Water: Moderate, keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
- Temperature: Prefers cool weather, ideal range 55-65°F (13-18°C).
- Fertilizer: Light feeding with a balanced fertilizer every few weeks.
Salvia – A Burst of Color in Your Garden

Salvia is a quintessential fall flower known for its vibrant, spiky blooms that add vertical interest to any garden. This fall bloomer comes in striking shades of deep purple, reddish-purple, and blue, making it a perfect addition to mixed borders and perennial gardens.
Salvia’s cold hardiness allows it to flourish in colder climates, extending its bloom from late summer into the fall months. Salvia brings enduring beauty and structure to any space, especially with ornamental grasses or other perennials.
Growth conditions:
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Moist, moderately fertile soil.
- Water: Moderate; allow soil to dry out between waterings.
- Temperature: Thrives in warm climates, 70-80°F (21-27°C).
- Fertilizer: Fertilize once a month with a balanced fertilizer.
Petunia – Vibrant Blossoms for Every Season

Petunias have vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in various colors, including purple, pink, and white flowers. As annuals, Petunias are perfect for adding late-season color to your landscape.
Their long blooming period extends from late summer into the cooler fall months, providing continuous bursts of color. Their ability to attract butterflies and pollinators makes them a valuable addition to fall gardens, ensuring a vibrant and thriving outdoor space well into the cooler season.
Growth conditions
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil.
- Water: Regular watering, keep soil evenly moist.
- Temperature: Prefers temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C).
- Fertilizer: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks.
African Daisy – The Daisy-like Flower

African Daisy is a vibrant addition to any space, known for its striking, daisy-like flowers in yellow, orange, and pink hues. Its green foliage and vivid blooms add life to any autumn landscape.
African Daisy is perfect for cold climates and late summer plantings, providing long-lasting fall color. Whether used in mass plantings or as accents in perennial gardens, African Daisy is a hardy, low-maintenance choice that brightens gardens well into the cooler months.
Growth conditions
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained soil with moderate fertility.
- Water: Moderate; allow soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
- Temperature: Best in cool climates, 60-70°F (15-21°C).
- Fertilizer: Fertilize monthly with a balanced fertilizer.
Verbena – The Secret to a Bloom-Filled Garden

Verbena is a versatile and vibrant choice for autumn landscapes, known for its clusters of small, star-shaped flowers that bloom in shades of purple, pink, and white. Its long blooming season extends from late spring to the cooler days of fall, providing continuous color.
Verbena’s ability to attract butterflies and pollinators adds life to any garden, making it a favorite among gardeners seeking beauty and functionality. Whether paired with ornamental grasses, Verbena’s vibrant blooms and hardy nature make it a perfect choice for enhancing autumn landscapes.
Growth conditions
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil.
- Water: Moderate, keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
- Temperature: Prefers warm weather, 70-80°F (21-27°C).
- Fertilizer: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every month.
Sweet Alyssum – The Sweet Fragrant Blooms

Sweet Alyssum has delicate, star-shaped flowers and aromatic foliage. It produces a profusion of white, pink, or purple flowers, creating a soft carpet of color that enhances autumn landscape, mixed borders, and window boxes.
Its compact form and sweet fragrance make it a favorite for attracting pollinators, while its versatility allows it to pair beautifully with other fall flowers, ornamental kale, and garden mums. Perfect for mass plantings or as a filler in hanging baskets, Sweet Alyssum adds charm and continuous bloom to any space.
Growth conditions
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil.
- Water: Regular watering, keep soil evenly moist.
- Temperature: Thrives in cool weather, 60-75°F (16-24°C).
- Fertilizer: Fertilize every four to six weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
Sunflower – Tall and Radiant Blooms

Sunflowers are a perfect addition to the autumn landscape, offering bold, daisy-like yellow flowers in vibrant hues. As a fall-blooming perennial, they thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them ideal for garden beds and meadow landscapes. These large plants grow tall with green foliage, creating a striking visual impact.
Sunflowers are summer flowers whose seed heads provide food for birds, adding a touch of wildlife interest to fall landscapes. With their bright blooms and robust nature, sunflowers are the quintessential choice for late-season color, bringing warmth to cooler days while complementing other fall bloomers such as Mexican Bush Sage.
Growth conditions
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil.
- Water: Moderate; allow soil to dry out between waterings.
- Temperature: Grows best in warm temperatures, 70-78°F (21-26°C).
- Fertilizer: Apply a balanced fertilizer at planting and mid-season.
Calibrachoa – Mini Petunias with Vibrant Hues

Calibrachoa is a fantastic choice with its vibrant blooms in shades of pink, yellow, and deep purples. Known for its small, dainty blooms that resemble petunias, this drought-tolerant, herbaceous perennial is perfect for garden beds, hanging baskets, and mass plantings, adding vibrant color to any fall landscape.
Whether paired with other fall bloomers like Coral Bells, it enhances perennial gardens’ beauty and attracts pollinators. Calibrachoa is an excellent choice for creating a lively, colorful autumn garden that lasts through winter.
Growth conditions
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil.
- Water: Moderate; keep soil evenly moist.
- Temperature: Prefers warm temperatures, 65-75°F (18-24°C).
- Fertilizer: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks.
Globe Amaranth – Everlasting Blooms for Year-Round Beauty

Globe Amaranth is popular among gardeners for its vibrant pink, yellow, and white blooms that last well into early October. Known for its single or double flowers, it adds a unique, textured look to mixed borders.
This drought-tolerant perennial has long-lasting flowers. It pairs beautifully with other fall bloomers like Joe Pye Weed, offering your landscape vibrant texture and stunning fall color.
Growth conditions
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil.
- Water: Moderate; allow soil to dry between waterings.
- Temperature: Thrives in warm weather, 70-85°F (21-29°C).
- Fertilizer: Apply a balanced fertilizer once a month.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right flowering plant for fall can transform your garden into a stunning display of color as the season shifts. From vibrant fall bloomers like garden mums to unique options like Nemesia and Globe Amaranth, these flowers offer a range of hues and textures that thrive in cooler weather.
Whether you’re looking for bold, drought-tolerant plants or delicate blooms to complement ornamental grasses, there are plenty of options to enhance your space. By selecting the right flowers —you can create a vibrant, lasting display that extends the beauty of your garden well into the winter months.