A change in the season often inspires a change in home decor. Bring a bit of your fall garden indoors to switch things up. Here are some fall floral favorites that make charming autumnal arrangements and centerpieces.
Amoroso Design
With their large, multiflowered clusters,
hydrangeas make excellent cut flowers. The fact that they come in a wide variety of sizes and colors makes them suitable for almost every landscape. Not only gorgeous at first blush, many turn an attractive reddish purple for fall beauty as well. These two varieties are great for cutting:
Smooth HydrangeaBotanical name: Hydrangea arborescensUSDA zones: 3 to 9 (find your zone)
Water requirement: Medium moisture, well-drained soil
Light requirement: Partial shade
Mature size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide
Oakleaf HydrangeaBotanical name: Hydrangea quercifoliaUSDA zones: 5 to 9
Water requirement: Medium moisture, well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 6 to 10 feet tall and wide
Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs
With the help of a male pollinator, the female
winterberry 'Afterglow' grows abundant orange-red fruit. These berries will persist through winter and provide food for birds. A simple spray of orange winterberry on a table instantly evokes a feeling of fall.
Botanical name: Ilex verticillata 'Afterglow'USDA zones: 3 to 9
Water requirement: Medium to wet soil
Light requirement: Full sun to light shade
Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall and wide
Amy Renea
The bright yellow, fluffy plumes of
goldenrod or Soldiago bring exceptional fall color to the landscape as well as to the table. The simplicity of this table arrangement magnifies its impact.
A native to the U.S., Solidago has been wrongly accused of causing hay fever, which is actually caused by wind-born pollen from plants with a similar bloom time, such as ragweed.
Botanical name: Solidago speciosaUSDA zones: 3 to 8
Water requirement: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
Debra Campbell Design
Native to dry plains, prairies and meadows in the U.S., late-blooming
sunflowers bring cheerfulness to any table arrangement. Easily grown from seed, they come in a wide range of sizes and colors meant for cutting.
Botanical name: Helianthus annuusUSDA zones: N/A; annual
Water requirement: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 3 to 10 feet tall and 1 1/2 to 3 feet wide
The
Sacred lotus is not only known for its large, spectacular flowers; its seed pods are prized additions to fall floral arrangements when dried. Because this plant can be grown underwater, it makes a terrific addition to water and pond gardens. However, it’s best to keep underwater groups of it in containers for manageability.
Botanical name: Nelumbo nuciferaUSDA zones: 4 to 10
Water requirement: Wet, boggy soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide
Kim Gamel
A vase of tree branches with fall foliage creates a simple fall arrangement. While maples are considered go-to trees for fall color, another tree worthy of consideration is the ginkgo, or
Maidenhair tree. The unique fan-shape leaves turn a brilliant yellow in autumn — perfect for a tabletop display.
Botanical name: Ginkgo biloba USDA zones: 3 to 8
Water requirement: Medium moisture, well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 50 to 80 feet tall and 30 to 40 feet wide
debora carl landscape design
Known by many psuedonyms,
curly willow has
branches that add a rustic yet whimsical feel to arrangements. Whether mixed with flowers or on their own, these architectural branches make a statement.
Botanical name: Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa'USDA zones: 5 to 8
Water requirement: Medium to wet soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 20 to 30 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide
Missouri Botanical Garden
A highly unique-looking "fruit" to consider for your fall table is
Osage orange. A native to Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, this thorny tree features inedible grapefruit-size, wrinkly fruits that ripen to a bright chartreuse. Put a few in a bowl on your table and call it a day.
Botanical name: Maclura pomiferaUSDA zones: 4 to 9
Water requirement: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 35 to 60 feet tall and wide
Tell us: What are some of your favorite fall plants to bring inside?