Seasonal Choices: Ideal Flora for Your Autumn Planting
Fall Container Gardening: A Vibrant and Tasty Mix
Fall is a wonderful time to bring life and colour to your outdoor spaces with a container garden. This season, opt for a mix of ornamental, flowering, and edible varieties that thrive in cooler temperatures and add seasonal colour and texture. Here are some recommendations to get you started.
Ornamental and Flowering Plants
Coreopsis and Black-eyed Susans offer cheerful, daisy-like blooms through fall. Bergenia provides bold, glossy leaves that turn burgundy in fall with pink spring flowers. 'Emerald' arborvitae adds year-round green vertical interest. Caladium and Coleus contribute striking foliage colour and texture. Daffodils can be planted in fall for early spring blooms, provided planters are protected in cold zones[1][2][3].
Edible Plants
Strawberries work well in hanging containers, keeping fruit accessible and protected. Vegetables such as spinach, collards, dwarf borlotti bush beans, and radishes are excellent for fall container growing because they tolerate cooler weather and mature quickly[1][5].
Foliage and Structure
Ornamental grasses add vertical height and movement. Ferns and variegated vinca vine create contrast and a lush look, especially in shaded spots[1][3].
Choosing containers with good drainage and insulating or moving them indoors during freezing temperatures (especially bulbs like daffodils) will help plants thrive in fall. Grouping mismatched, weathered planters with earthy tones can enhance the natural, seasonal aesthetic[3].
Additional Options
Pansies are classic cool-season annuals that can be planted in the fall once the weather has calmed[4]. Cosmos have daisy-like blossoms and occur in various colours, including crimson, pink, chocolate brown, yellow, orange, and gold[5]. Chrysanthemums, also known as garden mums, are popular for fall displays and come in various colours[6].
Marigolds bloom well into the fall, providing a splash of gold, copper, and brass to gardens[7]. Asters are a hallmark of the fall garden and their blue or indigo purple blossoms can perform well in a fall container garden[8].
Ornamental cabbages and kale (Brassica oleracea) are colorful plants that will last well into the fall, with colors ranging from sage green to pink and purple[9]. Globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) produces spherical flower heads in purple, pink, magenta, red, yellow, and white, and can grow up to 12 inches tall[10].
Marigolds are commonly used in Indian rituals and celebrations, particularly during the autumn[11]. Mums are more commonly grown as annuals and their blooming period ends with the late-fall frost[7].
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In fall container gardening, you can create a vibrant and tasty mix by including ornamental plants such as Coreopsis, Black-eyed Susans, Bergenia, 'Emerald' arborvitae, and Caladium for their colorful blooms and striking foliage. Strawberries and vegetables like spinach, collards, dwarf borlotti bush beans, and radishes can be grown for edible options that thrive in cooler temperatures. Ornamental grasses, ferns, and variegated vinca vine can provide structure, contrast, and lushness in your container garden.
Remember to choose containers with good drainage, protect tender bulbs like daffodils during freezing temperatures, and group weathered planters with earthy tones to enhance the seasonal aesthetic. Pansies, cosmos, chrysanthemums, and marigolds are other great options for fall container gardening, while asters and ornamental cabbages and kale offer beautiful color and texture right up until frost. These plants can be part of your home-and-garden or home-and-lifestyle garden, making your outdoor spaces more inviting and enjoyable.
