Nasturtium
Alaska Variegated Nasturtium Seeds
Bachelor’s Button
Blue Boy Bachelor’s Button Seeds
French Marigold
Red Metamorph French Marigold Seeds
Fall is ideal for planting, and options abound for easy flowers for garden beds or containers as we round out the year. In late summer and early fall, get a jumpstart on the cool season for a stunning autumn display in jewel tones of the season.
When gauging which beginner-friendly flowers to plant, plan around the anticipated frost date for your area, especially when deciding what to sow from seed and what to purchase from a nursery. Your USDA growing zone helps determine planting times and winter hardiness.
Now is also the time to source spring-flowering bulbs (yes, spring!) for planting in the fall. The bulbs benefit from a chill period over the winter and emerge gloriously in spring. Easy bloomers to plant this year include frost-tolerant annuals to embellish the cool-season arrangement and invite color on chilly days. To grow from this point on, focus on fall and winter color, spring-flowering bulbs, and perennials to establish now for fall interest with robust flowering in future seasons.
Snapdragons
Snaps bring colorful interest to the cool season annual display.
Reliable snapdragons are old-fashioned favorites with tall bloom spikes in color-saturated hues. Snaps bring colorful interest to the cool season annual display, from peach and blush to magenta and scarlet. Tubular blooms line tall stems, and when given a gentle squeeze, blossoms open like the mouth of a dragon mid-roar.
Snapdragon varieties come in various heights, from tall, back-of-the-border stems to small and compact. They attract pollinators, grow well in containers, and make showy cut flowers. Pair them with pansies, violas, ornamental kale, and Swiss chard for a fall arrangement.
Snapdragons thrive in moist, well-drained soils. Remove spent blooms to promote flowering. In mild climates, snaps bloom in fall and winter. In colder climates, they bloom in spring, summer, and fall.
Violas and Pansies
Pansies bear bigger flowers on larger plants, while violas yield smaller blooms on compact forms.
Both in the Viola genus, violas and pansies are cheery, cold-hardy additions to containers and borders. They come in almost endless color combinations and mixes of complementary hues. Pansies bear bigger flowers on larger plants, while violas yield smaller blooms on compact forms. Both are low-growing and easy to tuck into planters, window boxes, and hanging baskets for added color. Plant them in a mass for sweeping impact.
Pansies and violas survive winter in mild climates and withstand seasonal transitions in colder climates. These tough annuals tolerate cold spells with temperatures in the 20°F/-7°C range (and sometimes lower, depending on conditions). Leaves may turn gray during cold snaps and recover as temperatures warm.
Pansies and violas are easy to grow in well-draining soils. They benefit from deadheading faded flowers to promote more blooms (pansies, especially). Pinching old blooms channels energy from seed production into further flowering.
Sweet Alyssum
Treat them as cool-season annuals for spring and fall in hot, southern climates.
The sweet alyssum plant is a delicate annual with globes of snow-white, dainty flowers in fall and spring. Its sweet fragrance and profusion of blooms attract pollinators and insect predators.
Sweet alyssum is easy-care and grows best in well-draining soils. In high summer heat, plants turn yellow and fade. In moderate climates, they revive and resume blooming with cooler temperatures. Treat them as cool-season annuals for spring and fall in hot, southern climates.
Sweet alyssum naturally reseeds in the landscape. Leave plants in place over the fall and winter to drop seeds and for insulation. Pluck the old plants in the spring to reveal seedlings.
Marigolds
Marigolds are celebrated worldwide for their fragrance, cheerful color, and versatility.
The prolific pom pon blooms of marigolds come in sunny yellow, gold, ivory, and garnet. Easygoing and abundant, these flowers are perfect for beginners. The packed frill of petals contrasts handsomely with their feathery, deep green or purple foliage. Marigolds are a signature of autumnal arrangements.
French marigolds (Tagetes patula) produce large blooms in single or double flowers. African marigolds (Tagetes erecta) are the tallest, at three to four feet tall. Signet marigolds (Tagetes tenuifolia) are the most petite and also the tastiest. Use signet blooms to garnish salads and serving platters for a pretty touch.
Marigolds are celebrated worldwide for their fragrance, cheerful color, and versatility as fresh and dried blooms. They grow easily from seed and thrive until deep frost. For best growth, provide organically rich soils with good drainage.
Ornamental Pepper
Lush ornamental pepper plants are available in compact and dwarf varieties.
Stunning ornamental peppers add high visual interest to late summer and fall plantings with shiny pops of color among dark purple and green leaves. The showy peppers follow little flowers and range from long candles to rounded pearls. Some glow in fiery colors, while others are dark in chocolate and purple-black.
Ornamental pepper plants are available in compact and dwarf varieties, perfect for container culture and overwintering indoors. ‘Black Pearl’ is exceptionally heat tolerant and an All-America Selections winner. It features black foliage to match its shiny, round fruits. Peppers age from black to red for added interest.
Another All-America Selections winner is ‘Candlelight,’ with bundles of upright, slender fruits in green, orange, and red. A single plant produces more than a hundred bright peppers.
Ornamental peppers thrive in the summer heat, and fruiting lasts well into fall. Enjoy ornamental peppers for their good looks – although technically edible, many are intensely hot.
Sunflowers
Stately sunflowers grow quickly from seed in various sizes and colors.
Beginner-friendly sunflowers bloom all summer until frost, their cheery faces following the sun as it travels. A successional round of seeds sown in mid to late summer yields fall color.
Sunflowers grow quickly from seed in various sizes and colors. Opt for shorter specimens for a faster display late in the season, and plant them in groupings for impact.
Sunflowers evoke sunny days and blue skies that last into fall. Their blooms match the harvest palette in every shade of yellow, orange, garnet, and cream. Their nodding heads represent the quintessential American flower, which has migrated worldwide as an ornamental crop and iconic bloom.
Amaranth
They add spectacular color and texture to fresh and dried floral designs.
Amaranth’s striking foliage and tassel flowers grace the garden with autumnal appeal that looks makes beginners look like floral experts. It grows easily from seed, producing wild blooms and edible, high-protein seeds. Birds forage on seeds from flowers left to dry on the stem. For an autumn bloom, sow seeds in early summer or opt for nursery starts later in the season.
Amaranth flowers from late summer through frost. Draping blooms in burgundy, gold, coral, and magenta suspend from arching stems. They add spectacular color and texture to fresh and dried floral designs. ‘Coral Fountain’ varieties feature ropes of trailing blooms, and ‘Red Spike’ arches gracefully in deep red, perfect for fall.
Aztecs and earlier American cultures domesticated amaranth thousands of years ago and relied on it as a significant food source. This historic grain now grows worldwide because of its nutritious seeds and ease of growing.
Nasturtium
The leaves and flowers are edible and have a peppery flavor.
Nasturtium enjoys mild seasonal temperatures. Its stems climb or trail with round leaves and bright orange, red, and yellow tubular blooms. With a loose and rambling form, nasturtium lends itself to informal and naturalistic designs.
The variety ‘Black Velvet’ features deep maroon blooms, while the ‘Alaska’ series has variegated leaves. Use nasturtium as a single display or pair it with marigolds, salvia, and ornamental grasses. The leaves and flowers are edible and have a peppery flavor.
Nasturtiums are easy-to-grow annuals in beds, hanging baskets, window boxes, and containers. They tolerate dry conditions and partial shade (especially beneficial in hot, southern climates). Regular moisture and good drainage are best for flowering.
Calendula
Eat calendula leaves and flowers as a fresh garnish or dried for teas and baking.
Flowering calendula is long-blooming and produces bright ray flowers in rich yellow, orange, pink, ivory, and bicolor varieties. In cool climates, the flowers emerge from spring to frost. In hotter growing zones, it grows best in the cool temperatures of fall and spring and even over the winter for seasonal color.
Calendula is a frost-tolerant annual that is easy to grow except in high summer heat. Plants fade in hot conditions. In moderate areas, they’ll recover when cooler temperatures arrive. Calendula grows quickly from seed, blooming in as little as 30 days after germination. If sown in late summer, there’s still time for blooms if your anticipated frost date is later in the fall.
Calendula leaves and flowers are edible for a fresh garnish or dried for teas and baking. Whole flowers dry beautifully for arrangements. Fine hairs on the stems and slightly aromatic leaves are distasteful to deer.
Daffodils
After flowering, let daffodil leaves remain in place until they turn yellow and die back with warmer weather.
Bright yellow daffodils are among the showiest spring-flowering bulbs, and their laid-back maintenance is perfect for a beginner grower. They burst into the garden in late winter and early spring with trumpet blooms and cups of yellow, white, and apricot.
Plant daffodil bulbs in the fall for a springtime display. Dig bulbs about four inches deep and forget about them until the sunny blooms appear. Cluster them in groupings or en masse for impact. Underplant them among other cool season annuals in containers or the garden bed to keep the display going from winter to spring.
After flowering, let daffodil leaves remain in place until they turn yellow and die back with warmer weather. Leaving them lets the bulb absorb and store as much energy as possible for overwintering. Daffodils are long-lived, carefree perennial bulbs.
Tulips
Multicolored tulips are short-lived flowering bulbs that bloom for a few years before fading.
Lovely tulips brighten the springtime garden with their cupped blooms in single, double, or frilly forms and waves of color. Plant them in the fall to develop for the spring display.
Tulips are short-lived flowering bulbs that bloom for a few years before fading. Because their vigor is best the first year, many gardeners grow tulips as annuals or short-lived perennials.
Darwin hybrid tulips are long-blooming and have the most potential of modern hybrids to perennialize. Their true tulip form is simple and elegant, with cupped blooms in vivid shades. Large flowers grace tall stems. Cultivars range from pure pink (‘Pink Impression’) to clear yellow (‘Golden Parade’) and bright red (‘Parade’).
Heuchera
The rich foliage tones are as delectable as their names in the autumn display.
Coral bells, or Heuchera, are North American native perennials with striking foliage in unique shapes and colors. The species has attractive green leaves with green, purple, bronze, black, red, or orange hybrids. In addition to the bold foliage, sweet bloom sprays in pinks, corals, and reds rise in summer.
Look for Heuchera ‘Autumn Leaves,’ ‘Plum Pudding,’ ‘Caramel,’ and ‘Apple Twist’ to give high contrast in deep red, purple, and bright green tones. The rich foliage tones are as delectable as their names in the autumn display.
Pair coral bells with other partial shade perennials or annuals like hellebore, pansies, and ornamental grasses for a striking combination of multi-season foliage and flowers. For a twist on the display in the spring, underplant with tulips and daffodils.
Heuchera needs rich, organic, well-draining soils. It thrives in the morning sun or dappled light; its color may fade with too much direct sunlight.
Goldenrod
Solidago is a rugged perennial and highly tolerant of poor soils.
Goldenrod produces golden-yellow bloom clusters from summer through frost. Most species are native to North America and naturalize readily in the landscape, but there are well-behaved selections to keep plants in bounds.
Non-spreading varieties include solidago ‘Fireworks’ and ‘Baby Sun.’ These showy dwarf goldenrods are stout and ornamental with arching yellow spires.
To prolong flowering, deadhead spent blooms, but leave some to go to seed for the birds who find it a valuable food source. Solidago also attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
Solidago is a rugged perennial and highly tolerant of poor soils. Plants tolerate heat, humidity, and dry and wet situations. They perform best in moist, well-draining soils. Choose a goldenrod native to your area, and you’ll have a cluster of yellow blooms in fall.
Celosia
The cock’s comb flowers of celosia make an excellent aspect of cut or dried floral arrangements.
Known commonly as cock’s comb, celosia blooms in plumes of brilliant color that stand out in the annual planting. It brings wild form and texture in fuzzy red, magenta, yellow, and orange plumes.
Depending on the group, flowers appear as plumes, spires, or ruffly fan shapes. The Cristata group represents cockscomb celosias with large, ruffled flowers like a rooster’s wobbly comb. The Plumosa group features a feathery plume, and spicata blooms have naturally arching spikes like a sheaf of wheat.
Celosia makes an excellent cut or dried flower for floral arrangements. In vibrant hues of the season, celosia works well with other fall bloomers and with dark foliage plants.
Salvia ‘Black and Blue’
These are low-maintenance perennials with years of late summer and fall flowers.
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ is a favorite native North American salvia with tall, cobalt tubular flowers throughout the fall. A dark blue calyx holds the flowers, creating a bicolor look.
‘Black and Blue’ are low-maintenance, beginner-friendly perennials with years of late summer and fall flowers. Colonies spread slowly and divide easily for transplanting to other garden areas.
Provide well-draining soil and water during dry spells, allowing soils to dry out slightly between sessions. Grow ‘Black and Blue’ in perennial beds and naturalized settings. Their late-season flowers attract pollinators at a time when other flowers fade.
Russian Sage
This sage blooms reliably from summer until frost and thrives in hot, dry conditions.
Russian sage shines with silvery stems and leaves. In the warm season, sprays of purple-blue blooms whorl around stems with an airy look among the delicate foliage.
Russian sage is a Perennial Plant Association’s Perennial Plant of the Year winner. The award recognizes top performers that grow across a variety of climates and conditions with little extra maintenance. Russian sage blooms reliably from summer until frost and thrives in hot, dry conditions.
In climates with high humidity and rainfall, look for disease-resistant varieties like ‘Denim in Lace’ and ‘Crazy Blue.’ Provide good spacing around plants and soils with good drainage for best growth.
Flax
While the seeds aren’t edible, the flowers are fast-growing for quick color.
Showy blooming flax is grown for its seeds, oils, fibers, and flowers. These carefree, low-maintenance plants tolerate hot and cool weather and make good transitional-season growers.
‘Blue and Breezy’ is a perennial that produces edible seeds from sky-blue flowers. ‘Scarlet’ is a showy annual variety with a profusion of red blooms that attract pollinators. While the seeds aren’t edible, the flowers are fast-growing for quick color. Without deadheading, ‘Scarlet’ self-seeds for recurrent color.
Direct sow flax by scattering seeds on moist soil and gently tamping for soil contact. The seeds need good light exposure to germinate, so don’t worry about covering them. Plant them in late summer for fall color.
Joe Pye Weed
They make quality pollinator and naturalized garden additions.
Joe Pye weed sounds like a nuisance plant, but the tall, North American native perennials aren’t really weeds. They stand out with large, domed flower clusters. While adaptable, growing in roadside ditches and disturbed areas, they don’t spread aggressively. They make quality pollinator and naturalized garden additions.
In summer and fall, purple-pink flower clusters attract beneficial insects. Coarse, long leaves are dark green with purple-hued leaf nodes. Seed pods last into winter with extended interest.
Dwarf cultivars have compact habits and fit into a variety of spaces. ‘Little Joe’ and ‘Baby Joe’ grow only two to four feet tall with dense stems.
The easy-going natives grow in different soil conditions, including clay. They thrive in rich, moist, well-drained conditions.
Japanese Anemone
The bloom season lasts from August to October, sometimes well into November.
Fall-blooming anemones have handsome, ferny foliage and thin stems that hold buttercup blooms and buds. The clump-forming perennial sends up tall stems with clusters of petals in pinks, purples, whites, and golds—hues that beautifully complement fall tones. The tissuey outer petals (actually sepals) frame a central cluster of tiny florets.
Eriocapitella hupehensis and hybrida are fall-flowering cultivars with single, semi-double, and double blooms. The bloom season lasts from August to October, sometimes well into November.
Good drainage is essential for anemones. They prefer humusy, moist soils. Protect plants from drying winds and sun.
Garden Mums
Hardy chrysanthemums grow vigorously with upright or sprawling stems and a clumping habit.
A hallmark of autumn, chrysanthemums bloom in profusion from early fall until frost in the harvest hues. Scarlet, gold, orange, or purple blooms cover dark green leaves in a rounded habit. Potted mums create a cheerful welcome at the front door or as a centerpiece.
When buying nursery-potted mums, choose one with whole leaves and lots of unopened buds for longer enjoyment. Blooms open quickly on sunny days.
In addition to seasonal, annual mums, look for perennial chrysanthemums – hardy in the garden, looser in form, and rich in color. Hardy chrysanthemums grow vigorously with upright or sprawling stems and a clumping habit. ‘Ryan’s Pink’ has lovely trailing stems and pale pink flowers. ‘Miss Gloria’s Thanksgiving Day’ has daisy-like rose pink flowers, and ‘Coppersmith’ is bold in orange tones with a cushion form, ideal for cutting and arranging.
Helenium
Cultivars are showy and have tidier habits than straight species
Helenium is a North American native wildflower with waves of yellow daisy-ray flowers. Petals fan around a fuzzy central disc from mid-summer through late fall. Commonly called sneezeweed, thankfully, the name doesn’t relate to pollen production or allergy fits but to a snuff once used in cold treatments.
Cultivars are showy and have tidier habits than straight species. Selections like ‘Mardi Gras,’ ‘Ruby Tuesday,’ ‘Mariachi,’ and ‘Dancing Flames’ allude to the rich, multicolor shades available.
Helenium needs a moist site to thrive, with a natural habitat along streambanks, ponds, and wet meadows. Plants tolerate periods of standing water and poor soils.
Cornflower
It grows easily from seed, producing a fall flower with a late summer sowing.
Centaurea (also cornflower and bachelor’s button) is a perennial that prefers cool and moderate conditions to flourish. While it flowers in late spring and early summer flush, a lighter repeat bloom in early fall brings added interest. The flowers are wispy lavender-blue petals that surround rose-purple centers.
C. cyanus is an annual cornflower with rich blue, ruffled flowers atop upright stems. It grows easily from seed, producing a fall flower with a late summer sowing. It is an invasive species in certain areas.
In optimal conditions, especially in northern climates, cornflower spreads aggressively. Deadhead blooms to prevent seeding and divide perennial colonies every few years.
Roses
Many roses are versatile, whether creating a carpet of groundcover blooms or featuring a graceful shrub.
Roses make the list because fall is the perfect time for planting. They have a reputation for being high maintenance, but plenty of selections are easy to grow with unfussy requirements. Roses are versatile, whether creating a carpet of groundcover blooms or featuring a graceful shrub or climber.
Easy-care roses to look for are Earth-KindⓇ, DriftⓇ, and old garden roses. The Earth-KindⓇ designation goes to selections with improved landscape performance. They require minimal supplemental irrigation and no spraying for pests and diseases.
Drift roses are low-growing, exceptionally easy to care for, and disease-resistant. They withstand high heat, humidity, and cold winters. These star performers make excellent border, walkway, and container plantings. They’ll bloom all season without much of a break.
Old garden roses are historic – before 1867 – selections prized for their robust blooms, superior fragrance, attractive forms, and adaptability. They overflow with charm and antique beauty (and we should grow more of them!).
Grow roses in rich, evenly moist soils with good drainage. Ensure proper spacing and plenty of air circulation between plants to reduce fungal diseases and pests.
