Fall in Texas brings a welcome relief from summer’s scorching temperatures, making it the perfect time to refresh your yard. Adding seasonal plants can transform your home’s exterior, boosting curb appeal and creating a warm welcome.
With Texas’ unique climate, choosing the right fall plants ensures your yard stays vibrant through autumn and beyond.
1. Mexican Bush Sage
Velvety purple spikes create a dramatic display from September through November in Texas landscapes. Mexican Bush Sage thrives in our hot climate and requires minimal watering once established.
Butterflies flock to these fragrant blooms, adding movement and life to your front yard. Plant in groups of three or five for maximum impact, creating a stunning border along walkways or foundation plantings.
2. Gulf Muhly Grass
Pink cloud-like plumes dance above this native Texas grass each October, creating an ethereal haze that catches the evening light. Gulf Muhly stands about 3 feet tall and spreads slowly, making it perfect for property edges or statement plantings.
Drought-resistant and deer-resistant, this grass practically takes care of itself. The cotton candy-colored seed heads persist through winter, providing multi-season interest when many other plants have faded.
3. Fall Aster
Bursting with hundreds of daisy-like purple blooms, Fall Aster creates a carpet of color right when summer flowers are fading. Hardy in all Texas growing zones, these native perennials bounce back year after year with minimal care.
Plant near entrances where visitors can enjoy the buzzing bees and butterflies that visit these nectar-rich flowers. Cut back by half in mid-summer to encourage bushier growth and more abundant fall blooming.
4. Copper Canyon Daisy
Golden yellow flowers explode across this aromatic Texas native just as autumn arrives. The feathery foliage gives off a sweet marigold-like scent when brushed against, adding a sensory element to your landscape.
Growing to about 3 feet tall and wide, Copper Canyon Daisy creates a sunny focal point in beds or containers. Extremely heat and drought tolerant, it laughs at Texas summers and rewards your patience with a spectacular fall show.
5. Ornamental Kale
Ruffled rosettes in striking purples, pinks and creams add instant texture to Texas fall gardens. Ornamental kale looks like living sculpture, with colors intensifying as temperatures cool.
Place these showy plants in containers flanking your front door or along pathways for maximum impact. Unlike many flowering plants, ornamental kale maintains its good looks through light frosts, often lasting well into December in most Texas regions.
6. Firebush
Flame-colored tubular blooms cover this Texas favorite from summer until first frost, creating a blazing display perfect for entryways. Hummingbirds can’t resist the nectar-rich flowers, bringing delightful activity to your landscape.
Firebush grows rapidly to 3-4 feet tall in a single season. Use it as a seasonal hedge or dramatic accent plant. While technically a perennial in southern Texas, treat it as an annual in northern regions for reliable fall color.
7. Texas Sage
Silvery foliage creates a stunning backdrop for the lavender-purple blooms that appear after rain showers throughout fall. Native to West Texas, this drought-master shrub requires virtually no maintenance once established.
Growing to about 5 feet tall and wide, Texas Sage makes an excellent informal hedge or specimen plant. The soft gray leaves provide year-round interest even when not in bloom, contrasting beautifully with greener plants in your landscape.
8. Turk’s Cap
Quirky red flowers resembling tiny turbans nod among heart-shaped leaves in this Texas native’s fall display. Turk’s Cap thrives in both sun and shade, making it versatile for challenging spots like north-facing foundations.
Hummingbirds and butterflies visit the nectar-rich blooms constantly. Plant near windows where you can enjoy the wildlife activity. This carefree perennial returns reliably each year, gradually forming an impressive 3-4 foot mound of blooms.
9. Mexican Mint Marigold
Anise-scented foliage topped with golden yellow daisies makes this herb-garden favorite a landscape standout in fall. The licorice-like fragrance deters deer while attracting beneficial pollinators to your yard.
Growing in a tidy 2-foot mound, Mexican Mint Marigold fits perfectly along walkways or in container arrangements. Use the aromatic leaves in cooking as a tarragon substitute, making this beauty both ornamental and practical for Texas gardens.
10. Flame Acanthus
Fiery orange-red tubular blooms stand out vividly against deep green foliage from summer through fall. Flame Acanthus grows naturally in Central and West Texas, making it perfectly adapted to our challenging conditions.
Reaching 3-4 feet tall, this woody perennial creates an informal hedge or back-of-border accent. Extremely drought tolerant once established, it requires little water even during extended dry periods. Hummingbirds and butterflies constantly visit the nectar-rich blooms.
11. Fall Chrysanthemums
Abundant blooms in autumn hues of bronze, purple, yellow and red create instant seasonal impact. Mums planted in September or October provide weeks of color when many other plants are fading.
Group several plants together in containers by your front door for a welcoming fall display. After blooming, these hardy perennials can be transplanted into garden beds where they’ll return for years. Choose varieties labeled as “garden mums” rather than “florist mums” for better perennial performance in Texas.