Nothing says cozy quite like the colors, textures, and blooms of fall in Pennsylvania. As the season shifts, outdoor spaces are your perfect backdrop for crisp evenings, falling leaves, and autumn gatherings. Whether you’re designing a welcoming fall porch, creating a backyard bonfire spot, or refreshing your storefront for the season, fall container gardens bring natural beauty that lasts from warm September days to cool November nights.
In this post, we’re sharing three unique fall porch pot designs we’re loving right now. Use them as DIY inspiration—or let our team at Perfect Pots create a custom, seasonal design at your home or business.
A Traditional Fall Porch Pot: Classic Planter Ideas
Our “Welcome Autumn” design brings together all the classic colors and textures of fall in one standout porch pot! Oranges and yellows pop in celosia and mums, while cold-tolerant pansies add a variety of colors that will continue to bloom throughout the season. We’ve balanced the bright warm colors with deep purple ornamental peppers and kale - an essential in a classic fall planter! For our trailing plants, we’ve chosen wire vine for its curly texture.
Why it works: This pot layers plants whose looks evolve throughout the fall season, making this classic fall pot a spectacle to watch during the passing months! As autumn progresses, the ornamental peppers turn from deep purple to fiery red, just like the Pennsylvania foliage. When the mums' blooms fade, frost-tolerant pansies grow strong. As the days grow colder, the kale will deepen in color.
Design tips: For a festive touch, tuck in a pumpkin, gourd—or even a mini jack-o’-lantern once October rolls around! Pair this porch pot with a fall foliage wreath (find some in our online shop!) or a ‘welcome home' sign.
Fall Porch Pots for Shade: What to Plant
Looking for something that will thrive in fall shade? Our ‘Autumn Shades’ design focuses on fall textures and tones rather than blooms. We chose cold-tolerant ferns, heucheras, and grasses in complimenting hues of orange, rust and green. Miloberry adds a burst of autumn color, but you could swap them for preserved eucalyptus for a similar effect. Planted in a soft, mounded shape, this container brings subtle beauty in its variety of textures that lasts well into fall.
Why it works: This design thrives in shady spots, making it perfect for porches or patios that don’t get full sun. The warm tones play off each other for a glowing autumnal effect, and without blooms to deadhead, it’s as low-maintenance as it is eye-catching!
Design tips: We added a rustic metal flower sculpture as the “bloom” in the center (available at our greenhouse!), but you can swap in another sculptural accent—like a fall welcome sign. For extra wow-factor, we recommend a pot with texture to complement the layered foliage!
Moody Fall Porch Pots: Unique Planter Ideas
Now for something trendy, bold, and eye-catching! Our ‘Moody Hues Autumn’ design brings drama and depth to a fall container garden with its rich, dark palette. Silver Falls dichondra trails over the edges of the pot, framing the deep colors inside. We used Dracula Celosia as a focal point for its velvety burgundy bloom and dark foliage. Raspberry Dressing sorrel, deep purple heuchera, and variegated ornamental peppers play off the deep purple tones. We added preserved thistle for a unique faux-bloom look and ornamental grasses to bring height and drama to the design.
Why it works: This daringly dark design thrives on contrast! Like a gold frame around a dark painting, the silvery lightness of the Silver Falls off sets the deep, moody colors. Airy grasses and ferns contrast the denser elements of the design, creating a dynamic, impactful planter.
Design tips: Choose a neutral or dark-toned pot to let the moody palette shine. With it’s vintage-inspired look, this planter would pair perfectly with a dried floral wreath or other vintage elements.
How to Care for Fall Porch Pots
With just a little care, your fall container gardens can be planted in September and thrive well into November—or even longer!
Sunlight: The first step to a long lasting design is choosing plants that match your sun conditions. Keep in mind that the sun’s path shifts during fall, turning a once sunny summer spot to part-shade by October. Take note of your fall pots’ placement before you plant and create your design with your sun conditions top of mind.
Watering: Check your soil regularly by pressing your finger into it. If it feels dry, it’s time to water! Consistent moisture keeps both blooms and foliage healthy - even as temperatures drop! Although it may seem counter-intuitive, a happily watered plant will be more resilient to occasional frost than a dried, stressed out plant, so keep up with your watering even as fall progresses.
Deadheading & Maintenance: Some fall blooms (like pansies) last longer with deadheading, while others (like mums) don’t need it. Plan your pots around your preferences—choose either low-maintenance or bloom-heavy designs depending on your style.
Not sure what plants will work best for your porch or patio? Our greenhouse experts are here to help! We always have a designer in-house to answer your questions and assist with your design, ensuring your leave with the confidence of a pro.
Shop Fall Porch Pots and Pottery in Lancaster, PA
Looking to bring the cozy beauty of fall to your porch or patio? We’d love to help you design the perfect seasonal look!
DIY Your Fall Porch Pots – Visit our Lancaster greenhouse to shop the best selection of fall plants, pottery, and accents. Or, join one of our Fall Potting Workshops for expert guidance and hands-on inspiration. Love to plant but short on time? Grab one of our "recipe boxes" to pick up a curated box of plants, designed for you and ready to plant into a beautiful arrangement.
Let Us Do the Planting for You – No time to plant? Our team is on the road this season, creating stunning fall container gardens for homes and businesses across Lancaster and beyond. Book a quick 15-minute consultation to reserve your spot on our fall planting calendar!
Bring the Coziest Season Home
There’s nothing quite like fall in Pennsylvania—harvesting apples, jumping in piles of leaves, visiting pumpkin patches, and sipping warm cider. Bring that cozy, autumnal spirit to your own space with beautiful fall container gardens.
Visit our Strasburg greenhouse to shop seasonal plants and pottery, or book a fall seasonal planting to have our expert team create a custom design for your porch, patio, or storefront. Celebrate the season with wow-worthy fall planters, no matter your style!