The Best Flowers to Plant in Fall

Count on pansies to provide reliable fall color for containers or planting beds. This annual flower grows best in cool weather—it’s a perfect match for fall forecasts. Look for pansies with large or small flowers, varieties that stay petite, or fast growing, trailing types like this Cool Wave White Spreading pansy. In regions with mild winters, pinch pansies at planting time to promote bushiness and more flowers.

Fall garden mums add sparkle and color to autumn plantings in pots or landscape beds. Pair garden mums with ornamental cabbage or kale for long-lasting color that can stand up to light frosts. Consider fall-planted mums to be annuals. They don’t reliably survive winters in cold regions.

Fall is the right time of year for planting peonies. Choose peony varieties that flower at different times in the season (early, mid and late) for the longest color show. ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ peony (shown) opens 8-inch, fully double pink blooms in late spring. Peonies need shallow planting. Bury roots with the eyes or buds only 2 inches deep. Plant them too deep, and they won’t flower.

Autumn is the time of year you'll find bare roots (rhizomes) of bearded iris for sale in abundance. This perennial favorite opens blooms in a rainbow of flower hues, from purple-black, to sunny yellow, to old-fashioned lavender. Look for dwarf, knee-high or tall varieties. Plant iris so the top of the rhizome is exposed, except in hottest regions, where a light soil covering (no more than an inch) helps protect roots from heat.