Fall Plants

Fall plants bring porch color that outlasts a vase of cut flowers. This collection holds two potted mums in warm orange, each hand-picked for full color and delivered in bloom by a local florist near the recipient.

The guide below shows which mum suits a step or a porch and how to keep it blooming in the sun.

Caring for fall plants and potted mums

Two fall mums, two spots

The Autumn Outdoor Mum is covered in orange blooms from top to bottom and fills a rustic bushel basket sized for a front porch, an entryway or a patio. The Fall Mum Plant 6 is a smaller mum in a ceramic pot or bushel basket, depending on what the florist has on hand, and fits a step or an outdoor ledge. Both are built to live outside.

Keeping potted mums blooming

Give them at least six hours of sun and check the soil every day while the weather is warm, because potted mums dry out fast. Water at the base rather than over the flowers. Once the blooms fade, you can plant a garden mum in the ground with mulch around the roots, and in many areas it comes back next fall.

Fall mum questions

Are potted mums annual or perennial?

It depends on the variety. Hardy garden mums are perennials in many regions and can return if they're planted early enough to root before the ground freezes. Florist mums are often grown for one season, so if you're not sure which you have, enjoy it as a fall display and treat any regrowth as a bonus.

Do potted mums prefer sun or shade?

Sun. Mums flower best in full sun, though a little afternoon shade in a hot spell can help the blooms last. In a dim spot they fade quickly. For cut mums you can enjoy indoors, browse our chrysanthemum arrangements.

Can I keep a potted mum indoors?

For a day or two as decoration, yes, but mums need strong light and cool air to keep blooming, so move it back outside afterward. For indoor color that lasts through the holidays, an orchid or dish garden from our Thanksgiving plants is a better fit.