7 Best Plants for Gorgeous Fall Hanging Baskets

As autumn approaches, it’s time to swap out your summer hanging baskets for flowers and foliage that thrive in cooler weather Selecting the right plants will ensure your fall hanging baskets look fabulous well into the season.

Certain varieties can withstand light frosts and shorter days, rewarding you with weeks of color when other gardens start to fade. Read on for 7 top picks to create stunning fall hanging basket displays.

Dianthus

Also called “pinks,” dianthus blooms profusely in autumn with frilly flowers in shades of pink, red, purple and white Some varieties are fragrant, filling the air with a sweet, spicy scent These carefree perennials survive down to zone 4 and will keep blooming after frosts.

Ornamental Peppers

For unusual color, try hanging baskets of ornamental peppers. Varieties like ‘Black Pearl’ and ‘Explosion’ produce hundreds of glossy black or purple-red fruits that pop against the dark green foliage. Best of all, ornamental peppers thrive in cooler fall weather.

Chrysanthemums

No plant says fall like cheerful, daisy-like chrysanthemums. These iconic autumn bloomers come in a rainbow of colors like burgundy, bronze, yellow, white and more. Mounded varieties work well in mixed baskets. Place your mum baskets outdoors by late summer so they hit their peak in autumn.

Snapdragon

Another classic cool-season flower, snapdragons produce spikes of colorful, ruffled blooms from late summer into fall. Newer trailing types like ‘Candy Showers’ tumble attractively over basket edges. Snapdragon’s sweet-scented, butterfly-attracting flowers handle light frost.

Ornamental Cabbage & Kale

For unique texture and color, try ornamental cabbage and kale bred for their vivid purple and white-veined foliage. As temperatures cool, their colors become even richer. Pair them with trailing ivy or flowering pansies.

Dusty Miller

Valued for its showy silver-white leaves, dusty miller makes a striking thriller plant for fall combos. It contrasts beautifully with the crimson leaves of ornamental peppers or dark blooms of pansies and violas. Dusty miller thrives in cool conditions.

Pansies & Violas

These popular fall superstars produce flowers in almost every color until hard freezes strike. Their cheery blooms laughter in the breeze and withstand light frosts. Use pansies and violas abundantly in your autumn hanging baskets and containers.

Get Planting!

Create stunning hanging displays by combining several plants with foliage and blooms in fall colors. For example, try pairing the yellow flowers of ornamental peppers with the cool hues of pansies and cabbage. Or combine snapdragons, dusty miller and ivy. With the right selections, your baskets will keep their beauty from autumn through early winter.

Here are some additional tips for planting sensational fall hanging baskets:

• Use a quality potting mix and include slow-release fertilizer at planting time. This will provide nutrients for several weeks.

• Plant densely, allowing plants to fill in the entire basket for maximum impact. Space plants 6-10 inches apart.

• Include “thrillers” with height, trailing “spillers” and mid-level “fillers” for pleasing arrangements.

• Water baskets regularly, especially in windy or warm weather when they’ll dry out faster.

• Display baskets in sunny spots, except for those containing heat-sensitive mums which prefer part sun.

• Protect from hard freezes by moving baskets indoors or under shelter as needed.

With the right plant choices and care, your autumn hanging baskets will turn your porch, patio or balcony into a showcase of vibrant fall color. Their bright blooms and foliage will enliven your outdoor space through crisp autumn days and create an inviting style sure to draw compliments from guests.