7 Fall Planter Ideas to Elevate Your Seasonal Décor

As the weather cools and the leaves change, it’s the perfect time to refresh your planters for fall. Autumn offers a rich palette of colors, textures, and plants that thrive in cooler temperatures, allowing you to create beautiful displays for your porch, patio, or garden. Whether you want to evoke the cozy warmth of the season or add a bold pop of color, there’s a fall planter idea for every style.
Here are seven creative and easy-to-execute fall planter ideas to help inspire your autumn garden makeover.
Classic Chrysanthemum and Ornamental Cabbage Combo
Chrysanthemums, or “mums,” are iconic fall flowers known for their vibrant colors and long-lasting blooms. Paired with the textured, rosette-like leaves of ornamental cabbage or kale, this combination creates a stunning contrast of colors and shapes.
Colors: Use deep reds, burnt oranges, and golden yellows for the mums. Ornamental cabbage comes in shades of green, purple, and white.
Tip: Layer your plants by placing taller mums in the center and surrounding them with the lower-growing ornamental cabbage.
HC Planter Suggestion: White Birch Tahoe
Pumpkin Planters
Why not use a hollowed-out pumpkin as a festive container? Not only does it celebrate the fall season, but it also provides a biodegradable planter option. You can place smaller potted plants inside, or directly plant into the pumpkin.
Plant Suggestions: Succulents, pansies, or small ornamental grasses work well.
Colors: Choose plants in shades of soft greens, purples, and oranges to complement the natural color of the pumpkin.
Tip: When using a real pumpkin, be sure to add drainage holes at the bottom to avoid waterlogging your plants.
HC Planter Suggestion: If you don’t have any real pumpkins available, you can opt for the Reversible Pumpkin Planter!
Dramatic Foliage with Grasses and Heuchera
Create a dramatic, textural planter by combining ornamental grasses with foliage plants like Heuchera (coral bells). The tall, wispy blades of the grass paired with the rich, jewel-toned leaves of heuchera make for a striking autumn display.
Grasses: Choose grasses like purple fountain grass or blue fescue for height and texture.
Heuchera: Look for varieties with autumnal colors such as amber, burgundy, or deep purple.
Tip: Add in trailing ivy or creeping jenny to spill over the sides of the planter and soften the look.
HC Planter Suggestion: Chestnut Borden Square
Mixed Herb Planter
While we typically think of herbs as summer plants, many herbs can thrive well into the cooler months. A fall herb planter can bring both beauty and functionality to your outdoor space, and it’s perfect for those who love cooking with fresh ingredients.
Plants: Sage, rosemary, thyme, and parsley are all cold-tolerant and provide rich green tones.
Colors: Some herbs, like purple sage or golden thyme, offer colorful foliage.
Tip: Pair your herbs with small decorative gourds or mini pumpkins for a festive autumn touch.
HC Planter Suggestion: Garden Bowl
Rustic Wheelbarrow Planter
If you want to add charm and a vintage feel to your fall décor, repurposing an old wheelbarrow as a planter is a great idea. Fill it with a variety of fall plants to create a centerpiece for your garden or front yard.
Plants: Combine asters, black-eyed Susans, and pansies with cascading ivy or sweet potato vine for a layered look.
Colors: Play with rich autumn tones like plum, mustard yellow, and burnt orange.
Tip: Position the wheelbarrow on an angle to create visual movement, with plants trailing down one side.
Succulent and Pumpkin Fusion
For a more modern, minimalist take on fall planters, try combining **succulents** with small pumpkins in a shallow dish or container. This idea works well indoors or on a covered porch.
Succulents: Mix and match different types such as echeveria, hens-and-chicks, or sedum.
Colors: Succulents often come in muted greens, grays, and purples that pair beautifully with white or pastel pumpkins.
Tip: Arrange the succulents and pumpkins together tightly in the dish for a lush, overflowing effect.
HC Planter Suggestion: Try our Whiskey Barrel Bowl for a rustic look!
Bold Kale and Aster Planter
For a punch of color, pair bright asters with the bold leaves of ornamental kale. Asters bloom in late summer to fall, providing a pop of purples, pinks, or blues, while kale brings texture and deep green or purple hues.
Kale: Opt for varieties that have large, curly leaves with interesting color variations.
Asters: Choose bold colors that will stand out against the muted greens and purples of kale.
Tip: Add height by placing the asters toward the back of the planter and let the kale fan out in front.
HC Planter Suggestion: Try this in one of our Prima Planters!
Conclusion
These fall planter ideas provide endless opportunities to transform your outdoor spaces into seasonal showcases. Whether you’re going for rustic charm, modern elegance, or something in between, fall’s palette of rich colors and diverse textures offers something for everyone. Get creative with your containers and plant combinations, and enjoy the beauty that autumn brings to your garden and home!
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