35 Best Fall Flowers to Transform Your Garden Into an Autumn Paradise
Drink your apple cider with a gorgeous view this fall.
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While a warm spring or summer stroll through the garden is certainly enjoyable, there's nothing like a glass of apple cider on the patio or a cozy campfire in the yard when the air gets crisp. The only thing that can make that even better? Being surrounded by the best fall flowers.
To set your fall garden up for success, it's always a good idea to start early. Some of our favorite fall blooms (think chrysanthemums, marigolds and salvias) can be planted mid to late-August, meaning you might want to start mapping out how you want your yard to look beforehand. If you're a beginner plant parent, be sure to review the USDA's Plant Hardiness Zones for more information on what and when to plant based on your geographic location. Depending on where you're located, there might be different recommendations for certain flowers.
Keep scrolling for our top picks, ranging from popular perennial flowers (think hydrangea) to vibrant annuals like black-eyed Susans.
Caryopteris
As a late summer to early fall bloomer, Caryopteris are ideal autumn flowers for USDA zones 5-9. Plus, they're a great choice for a pollinator garden, as they attract bees, butterflies and other insects.
Salvia
Available in a range of colors, salvias can spruce up any autumn garden. In USDA zones 7 and warmer, salvias can be planted in August and still establish root before the cold weather kicks in, making them the perfect fall flower. However, if you live in a colder area, you may want to plant them a little earlier, or take them inside if frost comes early.
Dusty Miller
Give your garden a silvery glow with dusty miller. According to the Gardening Channel, this plant is reliably hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10, and with some winter protection, they might even survive as far north as zone 5.
Nemesia
Nemesia flowers start to bloom in the spring and continue into the fall, making them a beautiful addition to your garden. These plants thrive in partial shade to full sun and prefer well-drained soil and damp conditions.
Hydrangea
These popular perennials bloom early to midsummer and can survive a winter freeze. Choose from one of their pretty pastel shades (pink, purple, blue or white) or mix and match for an eye-catching fall garden.
Balloon Flower
With a name that describes their balloon-shaped buds, these flowers are sure to add a unique look to any garden. Available in shades of blue, white and pink, they do well with full sun, although they can also thrive in partial shade.
Marigolds
Brassy and warm marigolds are easy to grow and popular since they're in bloom for most of the season. They like full sun and can withstand heat, making them a good pick if you live in an area where scorching summers can extend into the fall (looking at you, Texas!).
Violas
These perennials bloom in the summer and return in the fall to add purple pops to your warm-toned garden. They're fast-growing and the flowers are edible, too. Violas like moist and acidic soil, so a peat-based potting mix or adding peat moss into their soil is best for them.
Petunias
Petunias are one of the most popular flowers for gardens because of their long flowering period: from spring until frost! They're great for hanging baskets — just know that they need full sun so they won't do well in the shade of a porch. Petunia seeds are very small, almost resembling dust, so it might be easier to get a start from a nursery.
Roses
A classic beauty, shrub roses (also called landscape roses) aren't as much work as you might think. Newer hybrid roses are sturdier, have longer blooms and are more hearty and disease-resistant than the heirloom roses you might be familiar with.
African Daisies
When first introduced to the market, consumers thought the vibrant petals and metallic centers of African daisies were dyed. They bloom quickly after planting and thrive best in full sun. They're also a great choice if you'd like to attract bees.
Blanket Flowers
Commonly named for how they spread out and "blanket" an area, blanket flowers are richly colored daisy-like flowers in warm shades of yellow and red. They thrive in full sun and poor soil, so you don't need to fertilize them as long as the soil drains well.
Flossflower
These tiny blooms resemble frilly pompoms and come in blue, purple, red, white and pink. New flowers grow over the old blooms so they always look freshly bloomed too. They bloom best in full sun.
Strawflower
The bright yellow, button-shaped blooms are nearly as beautiful as the silvery-green foliage. This pick is perfect for hanging baskets, where both the blooms and the stems can be displayed. Though they can tolerate partial shade, they won't bloom as much as full sun exposure.
Black-Eyed Susans
Bright yellow, daisy-like black-eyed Susans can act as annuals, biennials or short-lived perennials. They're drought resistant, but respond well to an occasional watering. They're known to attract pollinators, so expect butterflies and bees!
Chrysanthemums
The quintessential fall flower, you can pick up mums for (practically) a dime a dozen at the grocery store. Set the pots in bright, indirect light and water consistently throughout autumn. To keep 'em blooming (and looking neat), cut off buds as they wilt.
Hardy Fuchsia
If your garden needs a burst of color, look no further than hardy fuchsia, which is also referred to as fuchsia magellanica. Keep in mind that the right soil — not too dry, moist or hot — is key for this type of flower.
Amaranthus
Amaranthus produces gorgeous tassel-like flowers each fall that look great in arrangements — both fresh-cut and dried. The Missouri Botanical Garden advises that you grow this annual in full sun to part shade.
Dahlias
Certain varieties will keep on bloomin' from mid-summer into fall. Pick orange- and red-tinted varieties for autumn bouquets, but dahlias come in just about every color under the sun.
Pansies
Pansies can't tolerate heat, but they can withstand the winter. Plant 'em at the end of summer and they'll bloom until a hard frost. Then expect to see their vibrant hues pop up again in the spring.
Katarina Avendaño (she/her) is the senior SEO editor for Good Housekeeping, where she writes and edits lifestyle content and contributes to SEO strategy. Before joining GH in 2021, she was the digital editor at New York Family, where she was responsible for the website’s content and strategy. Katarina received her bachelor's degree in communications and Spanish from the University of Washington.
Laura Millar (she/her) is the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC's TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates.
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