Step Up Your Fall Garden Game with These Mum Alternatives
When fall rolls around, chrysanthemums (or “mums”) are usually the go-to plant to add a burst of color. But what if you’re looking to break the mold a bit this year? Fortunately, there are so many other vibrant and unique plants that thrive in the cooler weather and can bring a fresh look to your autumn garden. Here’s a roundup of some fantastic mum alternatives that’ll add texture, color, and personality to your fall display!
Celosia: The Showstopper
If you’re looking for a plant that will turn heads, celosia is a stunning option. This eye-catching beauty comes in bold, vibrant colors, with unique flower shapes that almost look like flames. Three standout varieties to consider for fall are:
- Intenz: Known for its striking purple-pink spikes that add height and drama.
- Kelo Fire: This variety bursts with fiery reds and oranges, a perfect autumn palette.
- Twisted: True to its name, this variety has a quirky, spiral flower shape that will add texture and whimsy to your garden.
Celosia loves full sun and is fairly low-maintenance, making it an excellent choice for brightening up your fall containers or garden beds.
Ornamental Peppers (Capsicum annuum): A Splash of Color and Spice
Ornamental peppers are a fantastic option if you want to mix some unique shapes and bright pops of color into your fall décor. These peppers come in shades of purple, red, orange, and yellow, often appearing all at once on the same plant. Their compact size makes them great for both garden beds and containers.
Just note: While they look tempting, ornamental peppers aren’t meant for eating (they can be quite spicy or bitter), but they sure are pretty to look at!
Pansies and Violas (Viola tricolor var. hortensis): Cool-Weather Champions
Pansies and violas are classics for fall planting, and for good reason! These cool-weather flowers come in a huge variety of colors and patterns, allowing for endless design possibilities.
- Pansies (Clear vs. Blotched): Clear pansies have solid, vibrant colors, while the blotched varieties feature dark, dramatic centers, creating a “face” on the flower. Both are excellent for fall gardens.
- Violas: With their smaller, daintier flowers, violas tend to be more resilient than pansies and can handle colder weather. They come in almost every color imaginable, from soft pastels to deep, rich hues.
Both pansies and violas love cooler temperatures and can survive light frosts, making them a perfect choice for fall.
Ornamental Grasses: Texture and Movement
For a more natural, flowing look, ornamental grasses like Fountain Grass (Pennisetum rubrum) and Fireworks (Pennisetum setaceum) are fantastic options. They add height, texture, and movement to your fall garden with their wispy plumes and rich colors.
- Fountain Grass: This grass has stunning deep red-purple foliage and feathery plumes that look amazing when the sunlight hits them.
- Fireworks: As its name suggests, this variety has explosive red, pink, and cream tones, adding a bold statement to your fall garden.
These grasses look stunning when paired with flowering plants and provide a striking contrast in texture.
Zinnias: Bold, Bright, and Beautiful
Zinnias are known for their bright colors and cheerful blooms, and while they’re typically associated with summer, they can continue to thrive into early fall. Varieties like mixed zinnias and bicolor zinnias (which feature two-tone petals) can add an unexpected splash of color to your fall garden.
Zinnias are easy to grow and come in a wide range of colors, including yellows, oranges, and reds—perfect for autumn!
Cabbage and Kale (Brassica oleracea): Bold and Textured
Ornamental cabbage and kale are fantastic foliage plants that are often overlooked. With their bold, rosette shapes and cool tones of purple, green, and white, they bring a whole new texture to fall displays. Plus, they’re incredibly hardy and can withstand cooler temperatures, even after frosts.
These plants pair beautifully with flowering varieties, providing a leafy contrast that brings depth and interest to your garden.
Fall-Colored Petunias and Million Bells (Calibrachoa)
Petunias are often associated with summer, but there are fall-colored varieties that bloom in shades perfect for autumn, like warm oranges, rich reds, and deep purples. The Super Cal series is especially hardy and can withstand cooler weather, giving your garden a splash of color late into the season.
Million Bells (or Calibrachoa) also come in beautiful fall colors like gold, burnt orange, and burgundy. These plants are prolific bloomers and can spill gracefully over the edges of containers, adding a cascading effect that looks beautiful in fall arrangements.
Montauk Daisy: The Late Bloomer
If you’re looking for a plant that will bloom well into the fall, the Montauk daisy is a great option. This sturdy, sun-loving plant produces classic white daisy blooms that contrast nicely with the deeper fall colors around it. Montauk daisies are low-maintenance and perfect for adding some late-season cheer to your garden.
Helenium: Rich Hues of Autumn
Helenium, also known as sneezeweed, is another fall bloomer that offers warm, rich colors like red, orange, and yellow. Its daisy-like flowers with bold centers are perfect for adding depth and a true fall feel to your garden.
While mums are certainly a fall favorite, these alternatives offer a range of colors, textures, and shapes that can bring new life and creativity to your autumn garden. Whether you’re drawn to the bold spikes of celosia, the vibrant hues of ornamental peppers, or the soft, cool tones of ornamental cabbages and kales, there’s an endless variety of plants that can elevate your fall garden game. So go ahead—experiment, mix, and match! Your fall display will be anything but ordinary.
Looking for some inspiration? Check out Nancy and Julia making some beautiful containers and window boxes (like the one above) with these mum alternatives!
Come visit us at any one of our 7 locations to see what we have in stock to make your fall more colorful!