Fall Flowers & Gifts

The flowers that say fall

Sunflowers, mums and warm-toned roses lead this collection. Sunflowers appear in 10 of the 27 designs, from the rustic Prairie Sunrise Bouquet, where they rise above bronze daisy pompons, to The Carol, whose tall dark-centered stems stand over roses and alstroemeria. Mums turn up as Ember Centerpiece, low and full in bronze, red and orange, as orange button pompons in Honeyed Harvest Pumpkin, and as two potted plants for the porch. Hydrangea, hypericum berries, thistle and dried wheat add the texture that makes a fall bouquet look gathered rather than formal, and Gathering Gratitude even tucks in kale and dusty miller. If the season's sunniest bloom is their favorite, browse all our sunflower bouquets.

Pick a palette: classic, bright or soft

Fall flower arrangements don't have to be orange. The classic autumn palette runs to rust, bronze, burgundy and gold, and Fields of Europe for Fall follows it with golden yellow and deep red touched with orange. For something sunnier, Lemony leans on yellow roses with daisies and carnations, and Festive Fall Centerpiece mixes orange, yellow and green. Heritage Red Bouquet stays with crimson roses, gerbera daisies and hypericum berries, while The Jules is simply hot pink roses. Not sure of their taste? With Designer's Choice - Fall Mix, the florist designs in a warm fall style using the flowers on hand that day.

Bouquet, centerpiece or plant?

Think about where the flowers will live. A hand-tied bouquet such as Fall Devotion Bouquet, where white hydrangeas cool down sunflowers, roses and daisies, suits a kitchen counter or a gift for someone's home. For a dining table, low designs keep sightlines open, and our fall centerpieces gather designs made for the table. Harvest Sunflower Basket arrives in a woven basket with a handle, so nobody has to hunt for a vase. For front steps, the Autumn Outdoor Mum fills a rustic bushel basket, and the smaller Fall Mum Plant 6 fits a step or ledge; both are in our fall plants collection.

Keeping autumn flowers fresh

Dry indoor heat is the main enemy once the furnace kicks on. Set the vase away from heat vents, radiators and sunny windows, and keep it clear of the fruit bowl, since ripening fruit gives off ethylene gas that ages flowers faster. Change the water every couple of days and recut the stems at an angle. Sunflowers are heavy drinkers, so check their water daily. Some flowers arrive in bud so they last longer, and they open over the next few days.