31 Gorgeous Fall Container Garden Ideas to Try Right Now

By BH&G Garden Editors
Updated September 15, 2020
Credit: Andre Baranowski
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.
Start Slideshow

1 of 31

Add Height with Grasses

Credit: 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

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 31

Forgo Flowers for Colorful Foliage

Credit: Laurie Black

This beautiful fall container garden idea doesn't rely on flowers, only colorful leaves. As a bonus, 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

3 of 31

Evoke Harvest Season with Gourds

Credit: 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 planter you have available.

A. Swiss chard

B. 'Pinot Gris' coralbells

Advertisement

4 of 31

Create a Long-Lasting Display with Peppers and Pansies

Credit: 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

5 of 31

Choose a Stylish Container

Credit: Laurie Black

Pick out a planter you really love, then let it inspire your container planting ideas. Consider a brightly colored pot to help bring some extra oomph to a gray winter day, and 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 plant provide contrast.

A. Blueberry

B. 'Lacinato' kale

C. 'Jade Princess' millet

D. 'Berry Smoothie' coralbells

E. 'Orchid Frost' deadnettle

6 of 31

Maximize Impact with Lots of Plants

Credit: Laurie Black

In each container garden design, use at least one plant with height, one with bright colors, and one with bold textures. There won't be time for plants to grow in, so pack the pot full for instant impact. Honeysuckle, leucothoe, and coralbells pack 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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 31

Combine Different Plant Textures

Credit: 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, textural, and can take a little 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

8 of 31

Accent with Colorful Twigs

Credit: 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

9 of 31

Plant With Colorful, Low-Maintenance Grasses

Credit: 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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 31

Go for Bold Colors in Smaller Containers

Credit: Kim Cornelison

Small containers are great accents because you can easily move them around into new arrangements, use them to fill gaps in the garden, or just to 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 31

Fill in with Dried Flowers

Credit: 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 planting.

A. Pig squeak

B. 'Xenox' sedum

C. 'Pink Crystals' rubygrass

12 of 31

Try Perennials with Interesting Foliage

Credit: 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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 31

Make a Bold Statement With Colorful Stems

Credit: 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 31

Combine Plants That Have Similar Fall Hues

Credit: 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 31

Play with Fall Favorites

Credit: 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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 31

Match Foliage with Mum Flowers

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Celebrate the season with bronze and deep purple tones, which look especially regal when paired with a bold, bright color from mums in this fall container garden.

A. Leatherleaf sedge

B. 'Golden Andrea' chrysanthemum

C. 'Jester' purple millet

17 of 31

Contrast Light and Dark Colors

Credit: 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 31

Choose a Color Theme

Credit: William N. Hopkins

This container garden 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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 31

Mix Up Kale Textures and Colors

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Frost-tolerant flowering kale is a perfect choice 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 31

Use a Unique Container

Credit: 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 31

Accent With Accessories

Credit: 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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 31

Celebrate Soft Colors

Credit: 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 31

Rely on Mums for Bold Seasonal Color

Credit: Kim Cornelison

Kale and mums always make for a reliable fall container combination. 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 31

Keep Planters Simple

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Even just a couple of 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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 31

Go Bold and Beautiful

Credit: 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 there are many varieties that have yellow petals.

A. 'Panola Yellow Blotch' pansy

B. 'Icicles' licorice plant

C. English ivy

26 of 31

Make a Bountiful Blooming Window Box

Credit: 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 31

Extend Your Display with Frost-Tolerant Options

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Frost doesn't have to mean the end of your container plantings! Choose tough plants that can stand up to the cold and keep on looking great, such as flowering kale and ajuga.

A. Hens and chicks

B. 'Mahogany' ajuga

C. 'Kamome Red' flowering kale

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 31

Accent Earth Tones with a Pop of Bright Color

Credit: 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 31