Most of the plants that you are going to have in your garden, whether it is indoors or outdoors, are going to bloom mostly during the spring and the summer months of the year.
I love to see blooms in my garden at all times of the year, so I have been looking for annuals that will bloom in the fall to plant around my garden.
So far, I have found a few that will look amazing in the fall, but the options are a bit limited. So, to help out others who are looking for annuals to bloom during the fall months, I created this list of 15 different annuals that can help to expand the time of the year when you see blooms.
1. Snapdragons
Snapdragons are lovely plants that produce trumpet-shaped bloom in the summer that will extend through the fall of the year. These plants can grow to be up to 8 feet tall, so they can be trained to climb in your garden. They tend to grow in zone nine and above with ease.
2. Pansies
Pansies are a plant that loves the cool weather, so it makes perfect sense that the plant would be one of the best fall blooming annuals to have in your garden. If you are growing this plant as an annual, it will need to be in zone four or above. This plant requires partial shade and well-drained soil to thrive. See the different varieties of Pansies here
3. Dianthus
This is a plant that tends to stop blooming during the hot summer months, so you will be able to see the blooms during the fall when it is cooler. This is a plant that grows in zones three to nine. Dianthus flowers, which can also be known as pinks, need well-drained soil and about six hours of sun a day.
4. Croton
Crotons are plants that not only bloom during the fall, but the leaves are also the bright colors of fall. These plants can be grown as annuals in zones nine to 11, and they will continue to bloom until the first frost of the year hits. They also like well-drained soil and about six hours of sunlight a day.
5. Ornamental Peppers
Most peppers do not seem to like the cold weather very much, but these ornamental ones bloom from the late summer month into the fall, which means that they are a fall-blooming annual. With full sun and well-drained soil, they should grow well in any garden in zones nine to 11.
6. Flowering Kale
This is a type of ornamental kale that is seen growing in zones two to 11. It tends to grow best in full sun and well-drained soil, but the plant will hold up to the cooler temperatures of the fall. In fact, the plant can be seen in the winter in locations with milder temperatures.
7. Ornamental Cabbage
Ornamental cabbage is not a type of plant that is edible, but it is a hardy flowering plant that will be quite colorful in the fall. These plants are green and purple, and they can be found in nearly any zone because they can tolerate cooler temperatures. They also grow best with full sun and well-drained soil.
8. Sweet Alyssum
This small plant is only about 6 inches tall, which makes it a great plant for edging along a walkway. It is a plant that loves cooler temperatures, and with full sun, it will grow well in zones seven through 11. This plant’s sweet smell also attracts butterflies and bees to your garden.
9. Begonias
Begonias come in fall colors with blooms that are orange, white, pink, purple, and red. They grow best in zones eight to 10 as annuals, but they can grow in other zones as perennials. In addition, they tend to need well-drained soil and full to partial sun to thrive.
10. Petunias
Petunias are plants that begin blooming in the summer of the year, and in the right area, they will continue to produce flowers throughout the fall as well. The blooms will vary in color quite a bit, but the plant only grows to be a foot tall in zones eight to 11.
11. Nasturtium
Another flower that comes in a lot of fall-like colors is the nasturtium. It grows in zones nine through 11, and it can be seen blooming during the late summer and the fall of the year. This is a plant that will grow best in full sun and well-drained soil.
12. Celosia
This is a great fall plant that will create blooms that are red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, and white. It can grow to be from 6 inches to up to 3 feet tall. In zones two through 11, this is a plant that can handle cooler temperatures, but it will thrive in full to partial shade.
13. Calendula
This plant has bright yellow blooms that will make you feel like fall is all around. In addition, this is a plant that prefers the cool temperatures of spring and fall, so this is the time when the blooms will be seen. Growing in zones eight and up, this is a plant that prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
14. Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums, or mums as they are sometimes called, are fall-blooming plants that have flowers that are red, orange, yellow, and peach. They can be a few inches tall or a few feet, depending on the type. It is a plant that requires full sun and well-drained soil to grow, and it will do best in zones five to 10. Because of the plants’ shallow roots, it will need a bit more water than most plants.
15. Aster
Asters can grow as either annuals or perennials, but it will be seen growing best in zones three to eight. These blooms are purple, pink, and blue, which are not a traditional fall plant’s coloration, but it can help brighten up your garden and bring butterflies and bees to your outdoor space. It will grow best with full sun and well-drained soil.
