11 of the Best Fall Annuals to Plant in the South

The reasonable and even sweltering temperatures in southern states offers us gardeners within the area a bonus in autumn.

For us, the riot of coloration from coleus, cleome, strawflower, and different summer time annuals doesn’t need to cease when Labor Day rolls round.

As a substitute, we will flip to a lovely assortment of fall annuals for a coloration enhance in our window containers, hanging baskets, beds, borders, and landscapes.

After all, fall perennials like asters and mums are additionally interesting.

However there’s one thing additional gratifying about sowing the annuals that may full their rising cycle in a single yr or season.

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You’ll be able to sow or transplant these cheery vegetation in July or August, benefit from the autumn present, after which toss the spent vegetation at season’s finish and not using a care.

If this sounds interesting, we’ll make it straightforward to decide on a fall annual suited to your space of the south that additionally fits your style.

We’ve compiled a listing of 11 of the most effective choices.

They embody cool-weather ornamentals, wildflowers, and annuals that begin blooming in late spring and are nonetheless going sturdy proper up till the primary frost.

Able to get into some specifics? Listed here are the vegetation that made the lower, together with a number of tips about giving them the correct begin for an optimum blooming season:

While you’re a southern gardener, there are a number of methods that may make fall-grown annuals more healthy and extra possible to offer the colour and blooms you’re striving for.

The USDA Hardiness Zones cowl fairly a variety right here within the southern states, and that may have an effect on what you develop and if you sow or transplant it.

I’m in East Tennessee, Zone 7, for instance.

Our common minimal temperature can plummet properly beneath freezing within the winter, and the autumn annuals I develop ordinarily succumb to chilly temperatures by mid-October.

As you go additional south, the Zone numbers go larger and so do the autumn temperatures.

Most of Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia are in Zone 8, with a minimal common temperature of simply 15°F, so these areas acquire a number of additional weeks of the climate that’s hospitable for fall annuals.

As a rule of thumb, in Zones 7 and eight you possibly can sow a brand new spherical of most flowering annuals in mid- to late July and nonetheless have time to take pleasure in a colourful present earlier than too-cold temperatures set in and kill the tender annuals.

In Zones 9a to 10a you might be able to plant as late as Labor Day and nonetheless admire the colourful flowers or foliage up till November and even December.

The frost-free Zone 10b to 11 climate on the tip of Texas and in Florida makes it so people there can develop a number of of our selections as tender perennials as a substitute – although that does take away the carefree enjoyment of rising annuals and not using a long-term dedication.

While you intend for flowering spring or early-summer planted annuals to maintain blooming into fall, it’s usually finest to persistently deadhead spent blossoms.

It will encourage extra blooms even because the climate will get cooler. 

Additionally mulch and water summer time annuals repeatedly, beginning if you sow or transplant your chosen varieties.

Your purpose is to maintain the vegetation wholesome sufficient to supply stunning foliage or flowers for a lot of months.

As soon as a marigold or zinnia begins languishing within the hot-as-Hades climate, it is going to have a tricky time making a comeback to bloom anew in autumn.

A few of the fall annuals on our checklist are drought- and heat-tolerant.

However they are going to develop higher with common, deep watering each time the bottom is dry a few inches from the floor – particularly if it hasn’t rained at the least an inch within the earlier week.

Whereas most of the annuals on this checklist might be sown or transplanted in spring to proceed blooming into autumn, others would require you to sow a brand new batch for fall coloration.

While you plant annuals any time after spring hoping they’ll mature in fall, it’s often a good suggestion to sow the seeds indoors as a substitute of direct seeding into the backyard.

Within the south, it’s too darn sizzling exterior in July for newly germinated annual seedlings to outlive with out numerous coddling, and it’s a lot simpler to maintain their rising combine moist indoors.

Most annual seeds ought to be sown 4 or 5 weeks forward of transplanting into containers or backyard beds.

Harden the vegetation off for per week earlier than transplanting into their out of doors rising house.

While you’re sowing in mid- to late summer time in areas that have frost, add at the least per week to the variety of “days to maturity” specified in your seed packet.

You’ll most likely nonetheless have loads of time for summer-sown annuals to mature and bloom forward of the primary frost, nevertheless it pays to double-check earlier than investing time and power.

Listed here are 11 of our high picks for colourful fall annuals to develop within the south:

1. China Aster

The uncommon annual aster, Callistephus chinensis, blooms in stunning jewel tones from spring all the way in which as much as the primary frost.

Use it in containers, alongside walkways, or in backyard beds. The colours are a deal with, starting from purples and pinks to white and yellow.

Giants of California is a hybrid sequence, that includes giant, four- to five-inch double blooms in pink, purple, and white.

Giants of California China Aster

Discover Giants of California blended China aster seeds in packets or bulk at Eden Brothers.

Study extra about the best way to develop China asters right here.

2. Calendula

Low upkeep, with two- to three-inch, daisy-shaped flowers, calendula (Calendula spp.) might be grown as tender perennials in Zones 9 to 11, however these vegetation are annuals in Zones 7 to eight.

Calendula, often known as pot marigold, typically self-seeds as properly, returning the next yr by itself.

The vegetation attain about 10 inches tall and unfold a foot or extra.

The ‘Pink Shock’ cultivar enhances the orange and russet tones so typically present in autumnal floral preparations.

‘Pink Shock’ Calendula

The fuzzy plant may even appeal to helpful bugs when grown as a companion within the fall vegetable backyard.

‘Pink Shock’ calendula seeds can be found in packets and bulk from Eden Brothers.

You’ll be able to plant calendula within the spring in full solar and well-draining soil and count on it to bloom up till the primary frost, notably for those who sustain with deadheading the flowers.

Notice that it might languish in the summertime warmth, however will often rebound to offer late summer time and early autumn coloration.

It’s additionally potential to plant calendula in summer time for those who aren’t rising it already, however you should definitely begin seedlings indoors.

For extra tips about rising calendula, see our information.

3. Flowering Kale

Technically a biennial that takes two years to finish its life cycle and kind seeds, flowering kale (Brassica oleracea), is often grown as an annual.

Despite the fact that its roots may doubtlessly survive a southern winter, the kale that emerges within the spring could be gangly, producing stalks of yellow flowers relatively than the pink facilities and spherical leaves of the first-year vegetation.

Flowering kale has turn out to be a favourite in fall flower preparations, with sturdy stems that may final for a very long time in a vase.

The decorative vegetation are additionally candidates for backyard borders or window containers, and will develop properly into the winter.

‘Crane Pink’ Flowering Kale

‘Crane Pink’ seems like a round-leaf open cabbage with deep pink middle leaves, and purple and inexperienced veins on the outside foliage.

Discover ‘Crane Pink’ flowering kale obtainable at Burpee. Select from packets of fifty seeds or units of 12 nursery begins.

This annual grows to 25 inches tall and requires full solar. Learn extra about rising decorative kale right here.

4. Fountain Grass

Decorative grass is gorgeous any time of yr, however purple fountain grass, Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubum,’ is especially interesting, waving majestically in an autumn panorama or container.

In Zones 9 to 11, fountain grass grows as a perennial, however we southern gardeners in Zones 7 and eight bid adieu to its deep purple leaves and flower spikes as soon as temperatures plummet beneath 20°F.

Purple Fountain Grass

Discover purple fountain grass vegetation obtainable in one-quart containers from Nature Hills Nursery.

You’ll be able to develop purple fountain grass from divisions or bought begins, however its seeds are sterile.

Transplant any time throughout the season and ensure to maintain the younger vegetation watered properly for the primary few months. As soon as they’re established, they’re drought tolerant.

In Zones 7 and eight, you’ll need to take pleasure in this annual earlier than the primary arduous freeze destroys it, so take into account transplanting as early within the spring as potential.

Study extra about rising purple fountain grass right here.

5. Marigold

Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) appeal to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds whereas brightening a border or container with their vivid blooms.

They’re hardy sufficient to resist warmth, poor soil, and drought to bloom for months, beginning in midsummer.

For fall coloration, ensure that to repeatedly deadhead spent flowers all through the season.

You can even develop new marigolds for autumn transplant by sowing the seeds indoors in July to plant out 4 to 6 weeks later.

‘Bolero’ is a French selection that grows 12 inches tall, and its orange and brick purple bicolored double blooms scream out “fall is right here!”

‘Bolero’ French Marigolds

The petals of those flowers are edible when grown with out pesticides, and the blooms additionally make a vivid addition to autumn-themed lower flower preparations.

Discover packets and bulk portions of ‘Bolero’ seed at Eden Brothers.

Study extra about the best way to develop marigolds right here.

6. Nasturtium

Nasturtium (Nasturtium spp.) is the quintessential annual for southern gardeners. You’ll be able to sow the seeds in spring and benefit from the vivid blooms all through the summer time.

The compact varieties are a enjoyment of planters and borders, whereas the vining sorts can cascade over cottage backyard partitions or drape from hanging baskets.

When autumn rolls round, you should still be having fun with the edible flowers of nasturtiums sown in June.

However you might also need to plant a brand new selection or two for fall containers or to cowl naked spots left by fading summer time annuals.

Make sure you plant in soil that drains properly and guarantee a full-sun location. Nasturtiums begin blooming 4 to 6 weeks after sowing.

Should you’re gardening in Zone 10 and above, you possibly can sow the seeds in August and even September and benefit from the blooms into November or December.

These in Zones 7 to 9 ought to plan to start out nasturtium seed by July on the newest.

Whirlybird Combine

Whirlybird Combine will make your coronary heart sing with the semi-double blooms in a mixture of autumn hues together with maroon, yellow, cream, orange, peach, apricot, salmon, and scarlet.

Crops on this combine have a mounding behavior and develop about 10 inches tall.

Discover packets or bulk portions of Whirlybird Combine obtainable at True Leaf Market.

Learn extra about rising nasturtium flowers right here.

7. Partridge Pea

Labeled as legumes, partridge peas (Chamaecrista fasciculata) are wildflowers that develop about three ft tall and bear enticing yellow flowers with reddish-purple spots on their bases.

Also called delicate plant, the partridge pea’s leaves are comprised of slim leaflets that shut up if touched.

The plant additionally displays nyctinasty, the place the leaves shut up at dusk and reopen within the morning.

This annual is a bunch plant for a number of species of butterflies. It bears pea pods after the spent blooms fall, and the seeds contained within the pods appeal to birds. The pods should not edible.

Together with the colourful blooms that attraction to pollinators, partridge pea is among the best fall-blooming annuals to develop and take care of.

It is going to thrive in common, sandy, or clay soil so long as it’s well-draining.

It wants reasonable quantities of water, and might be planted partially shade although it prefers full solar.

Plant this gorgeous native in borders, alongside walkways, on inaccessible slopes, and in pollinator and meadow-type gardens.

Gather seeds from current vegetation in late summer time or fall. Seeds could also be sown in fall, or frozen by means of the winter to sow in spring.

8. Petunia

Petunias (Petunia spp.) are so fairly.

Whereas some would possibly affiliate them with Mom’s Day, they will additionally pep up early autumn window containers, hanging baskets, beds, and borders, otherwise you would possibly wish to plant them for blooming floor cowl.

Southern gardeners in Zones 9 and above can deal with petunias as tender perennials, however these of us in Zones 7 or 8 ought to develop these vegetation as annuals.

Should you fastidiously have a tendency petunias planted in spring, you possibly can count on them to nonetheless bloom by means of the early weeks of autumn.

While you begin rising petunias in summer time expressly for fall coloration, be aware they’ll want 10 to 12 weeks after sowing to start flowering.

Sow seeds indoors in late June. They take a few week to germinate and one other 4 or 5 weeks to develop giant sufficient to harden off and transplant into the backyard.

Petunias received’t germinate at temperatures larger than 80°F, so there’s no level sowing them outside in a southern summer time!

While you’re fortunate sufficient to seek out begins and even full-grown vegetation at your native nursery in late summer time, snap them up!

Supercascade Blended Colours

Should you plant them in a full solar location with fertile, well-draining soil and hold them watered and deadheaded, they need to hold blooming by means of early autumn and perhaps up till the primary frost.

Supercascade is a sequence of grandiflora petunias, with giant flowers in vibrant colours and an upright, mounded progress behavior.

Discover seeds for Supercascade petunias obtainable at True Leaf Market in blue, burgundy, pink, purple, rose, white, and as a mixture.

Learn extra about rising petunias right here.

9. Snow Pea

Possibly not the primary fall annual to come back to thoughts for southern growers, particularly with “snow” as a part of their identify, snow peas (Pisum sativum) are nonetheless a effective choice to plant in late summer time for fairly, pink and purple, edible blooms on three-foot vegetation.

The clover-shaped, inexperienced foliage can also be enticing, and the vegetation complement different fall annuals like jewel-tone China asters in hanging baskets, raised beds, or autumn-themed window containers.

These legumes should not one of many autumn-blooming annuals you possibly can sow or transplant within the midsummer warmth.

As soon as they’ve germinated, they solely develop, flower, and maybe produce pods when the temperature stays beneath 85°F, they usually do finest within the 55 to 65°F vary.

‘Dwarf Gray’ is a compact selection that tops out at about three ft tall, and along with the enticing flowers, you’ll have a harvest of edible pea pods to stay up for!

‘Dwarf Gray’ Snow Peas

‘Dwarf Gray’ seeds in 100, 400, and 1,600-count packages can be found from Eden Brothers.

Mostly grown as a meals crop, fall-planted ‘Dwarf Gray’ can do triple obligation as a decorative, a supply of edible blooms and pods, and a lovely cowl crop for a spring vegetable backyard.

Study extra in our information to rising snow peas.

10. Sunflower

Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) herald summer time, however sure varieties may also brighten the early days of autumn.

‘Autumn Magnificence’ is a colourful selection, dwelling as much as its identify as a fall annual, producing a riot of copper, yellow, rust, and bicolor blooms on bushy vegetation that attain 4 to eight ft tall.

‘Autumn Magnificence’ Sunflowers

Discover ‘Autumn Magnificence’ combine seeds in packets and bulk sizes at Eden Brothers.

Pollinators can be drawn to the nectar-rich blooms and it’s also possible to save the seeds to plant subsequent yr.

Sunflowers usually take 75 to 90 days from sowing to bloom, so you should definitely sow the seeds with sufficient time to flower earlier than the primary killing frost in your space.

In Zones 9 and above it’s potential to plant sunflowers any time of yr.

Study extra about the best way to develop sunflowers right here.

11. Zinnia

Zounds! All zinnias (Zinnia spp.) have a colourful attraction blooming in an autumn-theme planter or in a long-stemmed association, however ‘Zowie Yellow Flame’ is especially eye-catching.

The flowers have giant purple central cones circled by a number of layers of magenta pink petals, with yellow ideas that steadily change to a deep purple.

The blooms are as massive as teacups – three to 5 inches throughout, With their sturdy, three-foot-tall stems and good colours, they brighten beds and borders and are additionally nice as lower flowers.

Beginning seeds indoors to transplant out is really helpful, notably for those who’re searching for fall blooms. This selection takes 75 to 85 days from sowing to bloom, so it wants that head begin.

‘Zowie Yellow Flame’ Zinnias

Discover 10- or 100-seed packets of ‘Zowie Yellow Flame’ obtainable at True Leaf Market.

This is among the most dependable “lower and are available once more” annuals you possibly can develop.

Anticipate flowering 75 days after sowing seed.

Pinching the primary set of buds helps this majestic zinnia department, and harvesting flowers for vases and deadheading spent blooms will encourage ongoing manufacturing.

Like all zinnias, ‘Zowie Yellow Flame’ wants full solar, correct air circulation, and soil-surface watering to stop its commonest ailment, powdery mildew.

Learn extra about rising zinnias right here.

Falling in Love with Autumn’s Annuals

Any of those picks can rapidly develop from seed – or nursery begin – to offer a colourful present in your backyard or a container this autumn.

Speedy progress is a part of the attraction of rising annuals. You plant, they develop, they’re beautiful, then they’re achieved, and also you begin over once more the subsequent yr or subsequent season.

Are you aware any fall annual favorites that develop properly within the south that we haven’t lined right here? Make sure you share your expertise and questions within the feedback part beneath.

And if this roundup struck your fancy, try these guides for extra flower gardening ideas:

© Ask the Specialists, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for extra particulars. Initially printed on January 3, 2015. Final up to date October 8, 2026. Product photographs by way of Burpee, Eden Brothers, Nature Hills Nursery, and True Leaf Market. Uncredited photographs: Shutterstock.