Gardening Gardening Basics Container Gardening

20 Best Fall Planter Ideas for a Colorful Garden

Learn which plants to pick and how to arrange them in a fall planter

flowering kale and mums

Katrin Ray Shumakov/Getty Images

Fall is a great time to have fun with warm and colorful container gardens. Incorporate different colors and textures, use perennials, or try out some cold-loving annuals. By grouping containers, you can change the look of a whole area—be it a deck, stoop, or yard.

You can move the containers around to change the appearance of the grouping. This is particularly handy when popular fall plants, such as asters and mums, start to fade. You can easily move them to an out-of-the-way spot and feature your best-looking containers.

Here are 20 ideas for a fall container garden.

  • 01 of 20

    Snapdragons and Nemesia

    fall container garden with snapdragons and grass

    The Spruce / Kerry Michaels

    Have a little fun with your fall container garden by using snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus), which look just like candy corn. The Nemesia 'Bluebird' in this floral mixture contrasts beautifully with the brown and orange snapdragons. And while the 'Crown Red' snapdragons add some pop, the grassy leather leaf sedge (Carex buchananii) pulls it all together.

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  • 02 of 20

    Combine Mums and Pumpkins

    mums and pumpkins

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    Is there anything more traditional than having an assortment of chrysanthemums in your fall container? Their buds fit right into the autumn season with their golden, bronze, and red hues that look even more festive sitting next to a pumpkin or two. These blooms are meant to withstand the cooler temperatures of the season and are very low maintenance.

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  • 03 of 20

    Birch Log Container Garden

    Log container garden filled with plants

    The Spruce / Kerry Michaels

    This rustic grouping features planters made from hollow birch logs, and the shades of red and purple scream autumn festivities. This particular planter features coleus, fuchsia, impatiens, and purple shamrock. But you can choose any favorite plants with warm, rich tones to mimic the look.

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  • 04 of 20

    Flowering Kale and Mums

    flowering kale and mums

    Katrin Ray Shumakov/Getty Images

    Speaking of mums, consider planting these with flowering kale for a gorgeous fall container garden. Ornamental kale blossoms great in the fall since it loves the cooler weather, and when next to the dark hues of mums, the green and purple leaves of the kale appear deeper and richer in appearance.

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  • 05 of 20

    Sunflower Assortment

    sunflower basket with other flowers

    Deb Perry/Instagram

    Although the sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is mainly a summer flower, it still has its place in fall. The golden blooms and dark brown center are reminiscent of the autumn color palette that boosts the fall vibe with other seasonal plants like pumpkins and ornamental cabbage. Create a container with a variety of sunflowers, asters, blanket flowers, and more for a colorful arrangement.

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  • 06 of 20

    Marigolds and Lettuce

    orange and yellow marigolds with lettuce

    Philipe S. Giraud/Getty Images

    We love this idea of planting marigolds (Tagetes) and Bibb lettuce together for aesthetics and the benefits of keeping your crop free from pests. The brightness of the marigolds adds colorful life to the greenery of the lettuce for a lush look.

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  • 07 of 20

    Fall Container With a Gourd

    cabbage branches basket mum container garden

    The Spruce / Kerry Michaels

    This fall container from VSF of New York City is both imaginative and beautiful. The use of bittersweet, branches, moss, and ivy give the planter texture. And the giant gourd and flowering kale really drive home the autumn feel.

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  • 08 of 20

    Dahlias

    purple and pink dahlias

    @ladylandscape/Instagram

    Dahlias are perfect to plant for fall since their color deepens for a rich appearance. Since they are very mature when the autumn season rolls around, their blooms will create a vibrant scene in your container. Plant these with purple fountain grass to add texture and fullness to this container.

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  • 09 of 20

    Purple Fountain Grass With Wire Vine

    annual grass and wirevine

    The Spruce / Kerry Michaels

    This fall container garden will last well past the first frost. It uses purple fountain grass and creeping wire vine (Muehlenbeckia axillaris) in a simple arrangement. The plain metal planter works well with the elaborate textures of the grass and wire vine, giving the container garden a modern look.

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  • 10 of 20

    Sedum With Rosemary and Grass

    Sedum, grass, and rosemary in a container garden

    The Spruce / Kerry Michaels

    This fall container garden uses the wonderful structure of rosemary to complement the loosey-goosey look of fountain grass. The combination of the dusty pink and sage of the sedum looks great draping over the edge. This container garden is tolerant to the cold and will look fantastic through fall and into winter.

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  • 11 of 20

    Fuchsia and Purple Shamrock

    rustic basket of fuchsia and "charmed wine," shamrock

    The Spruce / Kerry Michaels

    This container garden in a rustic basket is made for the shade. The 'Summer Splash' fuchsia and purple shamrock (Oxalis 'Charmed Wine') work well together and are happy in full to partial shade. When the temperatures start to dip, you can bring them inside to overwinter without having to worry too much about having a window with ample sunlight.

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  • 12 of 20

    Mums, Coral Bells, and Ornamental Grass

    Coral bells, toffee twist sedge, and pink mum in a fall container garden

    The Spruce / Kerry Michaels

    This fall container garden features dark coral bells (Heuchera 'Dolce Mocha Mint') with ornamental grass (Carex flagellifera 'Toffee Twist') for texture. And the deep pink mums add a necessary pop of color while bringing out the purple tones of the coral bell foliage. All together the arrangement is warm and inviting.

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  • 13 of 20

    Birch Bark Pot With Mums and Wire Vine

    birch bark-covered container holding mums and wirevine

    The Spruce / Kerry Michaels

    This birch bark-covered nursery container takes about 10 minutes to make. All you have to do is cut birch bark to fit a large nursery pot and attach it to the container with twine. For a finished edge, tuck the bark under the rim of the pot. Using a plant that drapes over the side—in this case wire vine—also gives a more finished look.

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  • 14 of 20

    Inaba Shidare

    potted inaba shidare

    DigiPub/Getty Images

    This weeping Japanese maple plant makes the perfect fall container. Featuring the stunning red and orange of fall, this plant makes a beautiful planter on its own.

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  • 15 of 20

    Blanketflower

    blanketflowers

    sassy1902/Getty Images

    While the weather can get dreary in the fall, planting blanket flowers (Gaillardia aristata) will be sure to brighten things up. These perennials are low maintenance and provide a nice pop of color to the darkening season. Plant these with ornamental grass for a rustic look to contrast the brightness.

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  • 16 of 20

    Coneflower

    conefllowers

    @ladylandscape/Instagram

    The coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a beautiful perennial to grow in the fall season. These blooms come in a variety of shades from vibrant pink-purple to red and orange (perfect for the season), or white. In order to have these beauties making a colorful appearance when the cooler months hit, plant them at least 6 weeks out of the first expected frost so their roots can develop properly.

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  • 17 of 20

    Geum 'Totally Tangerine'

    geum totally tangerine

    @ladylandscape/Instagram

    We love the idea of planting a fall container with this 'totally tangerine' shade of Geum (Geum rivale). This shade adds a pop of color to your garden that can easily be paired with other shades for a lively fall arrangement.

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  • 18 of 20

    Aster

    pale blue aster garden

    R A Kearton/Getty Images

    Asters (Asteraceae) are the flower to plant if you want full vibrancy in your fall container garden. These daisy-like flowers have beautiful blooms that are contrasted with their golden center, and add the perfect pop of color when planted next to lush greenery.

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  • 19 of 20

    Pincushion

    pincushion flower

    James Garland/Getty Images

    Enliven your fall garden with a container of pincushion flowers (Scabiosa columbaria). These flowers have a gorgeous opening of a white middle with color blooms that are easy to maintain. The blue, lavender, or pink options add a softness pop of color compared to the vibrant fall hues.

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  • 20 of 20

    Prairie Flowerbed With Wheat

    prairie flowerbed with wheat

    beekeepx/Getty Images

    Not all fall containers have to consist of flowers to make a beautiful scene. This season celebrates nature and rustic living, which is why the combination of prairie flowerbed and wheat is perfect for autumn. The seasonal reddish-orangish hue of the prairie flower mixed with the gold and green of wheat creates a warm flowerbed with the color that every fall container needs.