Extend summer color into the autumn months with these fall annuals. They love cooler temps, and many can even tolerate light frosts.
Top 10 Fall Annuals to Keep Your Garden Blooming
Updated on Aug. 14, 2024
As the long lazy days of summer turn to the crisp cool days of autumn, gardens begin to shift too. Foliage changes to brilliant shades of reds, oranges, and yellows, and fall perennials like asters and mums come into their own. But don’t forget about fall annuals! These beauties love cooler weather, and many can be planted as late as July or even August.
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Viola
Viola spp.
Though people think of violas as spring flowers, their frost tolerance makes them a good choice for fall too. Pinch back spent blooms regularly to keep them from setting seed, and they’ll flourish well into late autumn or early winter.
Why we love it: In mild winter areas, violas and their pansy cousins may continue to bloom year-round if you get them well-established before winter sets in. Yellow and brown varieties are especially well-suited to an autumn garden.
Pot Marigold
Calendula officinalis
If you’re looking for fall annuals that are easy to grow from seed, marigolds are a smart option. Bonus: the flowers are edible as long as they have not been treated with a pesticide.
Why we love it: Pot marigolds commonly come in yellow and orange hues, an ideal match for the autumn palette of many gardens. They pair nicely with asters, a popular fall flowers
Cosmos
Cosmos spp.
Refresh your tall cosmos plants for fall by allowing them to set seed in mid-summer, then cut the whole plant back by about a third. The seeds will fall to the ground for next year, while the plant itself will show new blooms in about a month or so.
Why we love it: If the pink, white, red and lavender hues of Cosmos bipinnatus don’t fit with your autumn garden’s colors, try planting C. sulphureus instead. The orange-yellow blossoms are a terrific background for pumpkins and other fall decor.
Sunflower
Helianthus spp.
From the tall, big-headed varieties to dwarf types with multiple blooms, sunflowers are one of the most beloved of fall annuals. Some bloom in less than two months from seed, so depending on where you live you can sow them as late as mid-August for a vibrant burst of autumn hues just as the leaves are changing.
Why we love it: Sunflowers are also pollinator favorites, drawing late season butterflies and bees. Plus, the seed heads are magnets for hungry songbirds!
Zinnia
Zinnia spp.
With so many colors to choose from, zinnias can find a place in any garden. They thrive in sunny, well-drained spots, and often self-seed for the following year. Snip back spent flower heads to encourage continuous blooms until the first frost.
Why we love it: Butterflies love zinnias, and they’re a wonderful fall annual for supporting migrating monarchs on their long journey south. Those that overwinter as adults (like mourning cloaks or red admirals) will also appreciate the late-season buffet.
Strawflower
Xerochrysum bracteatum formerly Bracteantha bracteata
The unusual papery petals of strawflower add texture to the garden, and their light frost tolerance means you can enjoy this low-growing plant a bit longer. Grow them in pink and white, or plan ahead for the cooler season with yellow and orange strawflowers instead.
Why we love it: As autumn draws to a close, snip your last strawflower blooms and dry them upside-down in a warm dark place for a few weeks. You may opt to replace brittle stems with wire before hanging upside down to dry. Now you can display these fall annuals in your home all winter long!
Nasturtium
Tropaeolum sp.
This garden classic is easy to grow from seed, where it can fill in when early bloomers begin to fade. Climbing-variety nasturtiums look great spilling from fall hanging baskets of mums or asters, while bush types in orange and yellow are fun to plant in hollowed-out pumpkins.
Why we love it: Nasturtium leaves and flowers are edible and make a lovely showing in seasonal salads. Their peppery flavor is a nice complement to fall veggies like spinach and kale.
Celosia
Celosia spp.
If you’d like something unique in your fall garden beds, celosia fits the bill. With three upright flower styles—cockscomb, plumed, and wheat—and hues ranging from pinks and purples to yellows and reds, this annual is sure to draw the eye of passersby as summer flowers fade from view.
Why we love it: The fascinating blooms are just one reason to grow celosia; many varieties boast colorful leaves. Look for foliage in bright green, burgundy, purple and gold.
Nemesia
Nemesia spp.
The numerous small blossoms of nemesia look terrific paired with bigger fall blooms like black-eyed Susan or coneflower. This is another good pick for autumn containers, since they tend to do better when temperatures are cooler.
Why we love it: Many spring favorites are also top picks for fall annuals due to their love of cooler temperatures, and nemesia is no exception. This bloomer might slow down during hot summer months, but usually revives when autumn’s snappy temperatures arrive.
Sweet Alyssum
Lobularia maritima
Late-season gardens deserve a dose of sweetness too, and alyssum’s tiny blossoms fill an area with honey-scented fragrance. It often goes dormant in hot weather but perks up beautifully when cooler days arrive.
Why we love it: The traditional white-flowered variety goes well with every garden bloom, but the purple-flowered cultivar is our favorite for autumn gardens. Pair it with yellow or orange fall annuals for a striking combination.
Sources
- Mississippi State University Extension – Plant violas in the fall for winter-long color
- Mississippi State University Extension – Plant mums, marigolds for the best fall color
- North Carolina Cooperative Extension – Cosmos sulphureus
- Mississippi State University Extension – It is not too late to enjoy growing fall sunflowers
- University of Maryland Extension – nasturtium
- University of Minnesota Extension – celosia
- Proven Winners – Succeeding with Nemesia
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension – Sweet Alyssum
