Gardening Container Gardens Container Plans & Ideas 33 Fall Planter Ideas for a Colorful Season-Long Garden Display By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the digital garden editor at Better Homes & Gardens. Before moving to Des Moines, Iowa, for this position in 2019, she spent 14 years serving as an editor for The American Gardener magazine, published by the American Horticultural Society in Virginia. She holds a B.S. in horticulture from Iowa State University and an M.P.S. in plant pathology from Cornell. Viveka loves getting people excited about the botanical world and feels happiest with dirt under her nails. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on September 23, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Kritsada Panichgul Liven up your fall garden with these stunning container garden ideas. Get creative with seasonal favorites such as mums, flowering kale, and pansies, or play with dynamic combinations of annuals, perennials, and grasses that also make excellent fall container plants. 01 of 33 Add Height with Grasses Jacob Fox Use the height of ornamental grasses to your advantage to balance the proportions of a large fall planter box. Rich gold, orange, and purple hues pair perfectly with a farmhouse-style wooden planter to decorate this porch. A. 'Northwind' switchgrass B. Chrysanthemum C. Golden barberry D. Cordyline E. Trailing sedum 02 of 33 Forgo Flowers for Colorful Foliage Laurie Black This beautiful fall planter idea doesn't rely on flowers, only colorful leaves. The planter's rich tapestry of hues and textures will last well past first frost. A. Coprosma 'Tequila Sunrise' B. 'Charity' grape holly C. 'Stoplight' foamy bells D. 'Nagoya' kale 03 of 33 Evoke Harvest Season with Gourds Cameron Sadeghpour Dish up the season's bounty by planting frost-tolerant coralbells and Swiss chard in the center of a galvanized pan, then surround the plants with a colorful collection of gourds and mini squash. This easy fall container garden idea can also be adapted to any available planter. A. Swiss chard B. 'Pinot Gris' coralbells 04 of 33 Create a Long-Lasting Display with Peppers and Pansies Cameron Sadeghpour Plant an autumn-inspired container you can enjoy until winter sets in. The broad, fuzzy foliage of silver sage contrasts with the slender, arching leaves of sedge. Long-lasting ornamental peppers are set off by almost-black pansies to complement your Halloween decor. A. Silver sage B. 'Frosted Curls' sedge C. 'Bowles' Black' pansy D. Hot peppers 05 of 33 Choose a Stylish Container Laurie Black Pick a planter you really love, then let it inspire your fall planter idea. Consider a brightly colored pot to help bring some extra oomph to a gray winter day. Select plants with foliage or stems with similar or contrasting hues. In this container, bright red coralbells almost match the container color, while the rest of the plants provide contrast. A. Blueberry B. 'Lacinato' kale C. 'Jade Princess' millet D. 'Berry Smoothie' coralbells E. 'Orchid Frost' deadnettle 06 of 33 Maximize Impact with Lots of Plants Laurie Black Use at least one plant with height, one with bright colors, and one with bold textures in each container garden design. There won't be time for plants to grow in, so pack the pot full for immediate impact. Honeysuckle, leucothoe, and coralbells fill this container with lush foliage, while little bluestem adds texture and rises above the rest. A. Little bluestem B. 'Twiggy Dwarf' honeysuckle C. 'Rainbow' leucothoe D. 'Berry Smoothie' coralbells 07 of 33 Combine Different Plant Textures Laurie Black Flowers are fleeting, so keep the show going all season long by choosing fall container plants with foliage that looks lovely in autumn. Grasses, kale, Heuchera, and Heucherella are colorful and textural. They can take a slight frost, so they're dependable anchors for fall pots. A. 'Purple Lacinato' kale B. Orange sedge C. 'Sundance' Mexican orange blossom D. 'Roy's Red' coprosma E. 'Sorbet' viola F. 'Stoplight' foamy bells 08 of 33 Accent with Colorful Twigs Laurie Black Long, straight stems like these from redtwig dogwoods are an easy way to add pizzazz to fall containers. Paint them for even more color, and use a tall, narrow container to heighten the effect. A. 'Purple Baron' ornamental millet B. 'Morning Light' maidengrass C. Variegated hebe D. Mugo dwarf pine E. Wintergreen 09 of 33 Plant With Colorful, Low-Maintenance Grasses Marty Baldwin Ornamental grasses are a no-brainer for adding movement and color to fall gardens. Keep them in mind for your container plantings, too. Most grasses look great in pots. Here, purple fountaingrass and blue fescue create a lovely contrast for pink mums and yellow strawflower. A. Blue fescue B. 'Cecilia' chrysanthemum C. 'Sundaze Golden Yellow' strawflower D. Purple fountaingrass 10 of 33 Go for Bold Colors in Smaller Containers Kim Cornelison Small containers are great because you can easily move them around into new arrangements, use them to fill gaps in the garden, or change up your landscape's look. This container is a perfect match for a festive series of small pumpkins. A. 'Magellan Orange' zinnia B. Deadnettle C. 'Panola Orange' pansy D. Rosemary E. 'Prestige Scarlet' celosia 11 of 33 Fill in with Dried Flowers Helen Norman One secret to great container gardens is to combine live plants with dried ones. Here, dried flowers from oakleaf hydrangeas on top and bigleaf hydrangeas on the bottom add grace and interest to this charming fall planting idea. A. Pig squeak B. 'Xenox' sedum C. 'Pink Crystals' rubygrass 12 of 33 Try Perennials with Interesting Foliage William N. Hopkins Perennials can be the highlight of fall container gardens, especially if you choose varieties with flashy foliage. Treat them as annuals at the end of the season, or get them in the ground as soon as you can before it freezes. A. 'Efanthia' euphorbia B. 'Hameln' fountaingrass C. 'Flying Colors Trailing Red' diascia D. 'Dolce Creme Brulee' coralbells 13 of 33 Make a Bold Statement With Colorful Stems Marty Baldwin Sometimes stems can be more colorful than leaves. In this fall container idea, Swiss chard's eye-catching stems steal the show from the more muted hues of the foliage. A. 'Bright Lights' swiss chard B. 'Pigeon Purple' flowering kale C. 'Marmalade' coralbells 14 of 33 Combine Plants That Have Similar Fall Hues Kim Cornelison Make a statement at your entrance with a classic garden urn or two. Use flowers and foliage with similar autumn hues to create a warm welcome. A. 'Burgundy Giant' fountaingrass B. 'Sedona' coleus C. 'Zesty Scarlet' zinnia D. 'Cordoba' black-eyed Susan E. 'Superbells Tequila Sunrise' calibrachoa 15 of 33 Favorite Fall Planter Idea Marty Baldwin Asters and kale are surefire picks for a great fall show, and silvery foliage from 'Icicles' licorice plant is a perfect end-of-the-season accent. The annual flowers add late-season color, while kale helps fill out the container and create a lush fall arrangement. A. 'Purple Viking' aster B. 'Kamome Red' flowering kale C. 'Icicles' licorice plant 16 of 33 Match Foliage with Mum Flowers Marty Baldwin Celebrate the season with bronze and deep purple tones, which look especially regal when paired with bold, bright colors from mums in this fall container garden. A. Leatherleaf sedge B. 'Golden Andrea' chrysanthemum C. 'Jester' purple millet 17 of 33 Contrast Light and Dark Colors Marty Baldwin Add unexpected colors and contrasts to your fall landscape with container garden plants that feature soft pink flowers or silver leaves. A. 'Soft Cheryl' chrystanthemum B. Dusty miller C. 'Redbor' purple kale 18 of 33 Choose a Color Theme William N. Hopkins This fall planter idea is all about capitalizing on a color theme to look cohesive. Terra-cotta hues echo through the pot, flowers, and foliage. A. 'Efanthia' euphorbia B. 'Ulrich' coleus C. Indiangrass D. 'Festive Ursula' chrysanthemum 19 of 33 Mix Up Kale Textures and Colors Marty Baldwin Frost-tolerant flowering kale is perfect for adding color and texture to late-season containers. Try a handful of varieties to create a dynamic display. A. 'Osaka White' flowering kale B. 'Pigeon Purple' flowering kale C. 'Redbor' flowering kale 20 of 33 Use a Unique Container Peter Krumhardt Boost a set of great plants with a fun container, such as an old, weathered birdbath. Or consider a bushel basket, wooden crate, or other material with character. A. 'Golden Globe' loosestrife B. 'Tiny Toes' coleus C. 'Blushing Emily' chrysanthemum D. Kale E. 'Mona Lavender' plectranthus F. 'Dolce Creme Brulee' coralbells G. 'Pink Champagne' rubygrass 21 of 33 Accent With Accessories Peter Krumhardt Give your fall containers a little something extra by adding garden ornaments or other artistic elements. A gourd birdhouse, for example, ties into the colors and lends additional height to this container garden idea. A. 'Cheryl' chrysanthemum B. Sedge C. 'Aurea' golden creeping Jenny D. 'Icicle' pansy E. 'Rubrum' purple fountaingrass 22 of 33 Celebrate Soft Colors Peter Krumhardt Container flower gardening is all about balance. Contrast autumn's bold reds, oranges, and yellows with blooms that boast soft shades of pink, lavender, and burgundy. A. 'Osaka Purple' flowering kale B. 'Icicle' pansy C. 'Debonaire' chrysanthemum D. 'Red Riding Hood' purple fountaingrass 23 of 33 Rely on Mums for Bold Seasonal Color Kim Cornelison Kale and mums are always a reliable fall planter idea. But nothing says you can't mix it up a little by adding in a few other plants to really set them off. Here, a russet red mum makes a great contrast for a purple calibrachoa in a galvanized container. These plants would also work well in a fall hanging basket. A. 'Cabaret Purple' calibrachoa B. 'Brandi' chrysanthemum C. 'Osaka Purple' flowering kale D. 'Hameln' fountaingrass E. Sage 24 of 33 Keep Planters Simple Peter Krumhardt Even a few fall container plants can create a beautiful mini garden. This one offers a bonus of the strong fragrance of the flowering stock. A. 'Wonderland Mulberry Mix' sweet alyssum B. 'Osaka Purple' flowering kale C. 'Vintage Lavender' flowering stock 25 of 33 Go Bold and Beautiful Marty Baldwin No matter the season, yellow shines in the landscape. Pansies are some of the best plants for fall because they flower well past the first frost and many varieties have yellow petals. A. 'Panola Yellow Blotch' pansy B. 'Icicles' licorice plant C. English ivy 26 of 33 Make a Bountiful Blooming Window Box Peter Krumhardt Mums are some of the most colorful and versatile fall plants. Use them to fill your window boxes for a burst of autumn color. A. 'Draga' chrysanthemum B. 'Denise' chrysanthemum C. 'Osaka Purple' flowering kale D. 'Glacier' variegated ivy 27 of 33 Rely on Perennials for Fall Color Helen Norman This trio of perennials offers fall colors that make a dramatic statement in a container garden. To overwinter the perennials, sink the pot into the ground or move it to a cool spot over the winter. A: Fountaingrass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) — 1 B: Coralbells (Heuchera ‘Peach Flambe’) — 2 C: Golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) — 2 28 of 33 Accent Earth Tones with a Pop of Bright Color Andre' Baranowski A simple gathering of cold-resistant ruffled green kale (Brassica oleracea), striking magenta chrysanthemum, and variegated Iresine herbstii 'Aureoreticulata' evokes an autumnal vibe in earthy containers. A. Ruffled green kale B. Magenta chrysanthemum C. 'Aureoreticulata' beefsteak plant 29 of 33 Pair Mums and Grasses with Similar Hues Andre' Baranowski Tassled purple fountaingrass adds height, texture, and just enough color to contrast with vivid magenta chrysanthemums in a simple terra-cotta pot. A. 'Rubrum' purple fountaingrass B. Magenta chrysanthemum 30 of 33 Combine Colorful Fall Favorites Kritsada Panichgul A pair of planters (one 12 inches wide, the other 18 inches wide) makes fall memorable with an eye-catching blue glaze that perfectly contrasts orange pumpkins. The cool color of the pots harmonizes beautifully with the kale foliage and mum flowers. The pink tones in the festival grass echo those of the mums, and its spiky leaves add a contrasting texture to the whole arrangement. A: Chrysanthemum 'Beth Violet' B: Kale (Brassica oleracea 'Chidori White') C: Aster 'Viking' D: Kale (Brassica oleracea 'Toscano') E: Festival grass (Cordyline 'Jurred') 31 of 33 Mix Foliage, Flowers, and Fruit Andre' Baranowski Ornamental black pepper (Capsicum annuum 'Black Pearl') makes an outstanding display in a rusty cast-iron pot with pink verbena, bold purple kale, and ornamental cabbage. A. 'Black Pearl' ornamental black pepper B. Pink verbena C. Purple kale D. Ornamental cabbage 32 of 33 Use Different Shades of One Color Andre' Baranowski An airy mass of long-blooming coreopsis 'Mango Punch' combines with matching chrysanthemums and a few berried spikes of ornamental black pepper in a footed urn. A. 'Mango Punch' coreopsis B. Chrysanthemum C. Ornamental black pepper 33 of 33 Add Fragrance to the Mix Erica George Dines This fall flower and foliage container breaks the typical color scheme of gold, orange, and red. A tall, fragrant rosemary plant is a focal point, set off by colorful asters, deep-green ivy, and pink mums. A: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) B: Days Aster C: Chrysanthemum ‘Marsha Pink’ D: Majestic Giant pansy (Viola ‘Majestic Giant’) E: English ivy (Hedera helix) Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit