As Georgia’s scorching summer begins to fade, container gardening offers a perfect way to keep your outdoor spaces colorful well into fall.
The Peach State’s extended growing season gives gardeners a unique opportunity to enjoy blooms long after other regions have packed away their gardening tools.
Whether you’re dealing with Atlanta’s urban heat or the coastal humidity of Savannah, these potted beauties will withstand Georgia’s late summer conditions and continue performing beautifully as temperatures gradually cool.
1. Zinnias
Heat-loving and drought-tolerant, zinnias keep producing colorful blooms when many other flowers have given up. Their daisy-like flowers come in nearly every color except blue, making them versatile additions to any container arrangement.
Plant them in well-draining soil and place in full Georgia sunshine. Even as September rolls around, these sturdy performers continue attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your patio or deck.
2. Lantana
Practically bulletproof in Georgia’s climate, lantana thrives when temperatures soar into the 90s. The clusters of tiny flowers create a stunning display that changes color as they mature, often showcasing multiple hues on a single plant.
Deer and drought resistant, these container champions need minimal care. Position them where they’ll receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, and they’ll reward you with continuous blooms until the first hard frost.
3. Purple Fountain Grass
Standing tall with burgundy-purple foliage and feathery plumes that catch the light, this ornamental grass adds dramatic height and movement to container gardens. The arching form creates a fountain-like appearance that only improves as fall progresses.
Georgia gardeners appreciate how this grass maintains its striking appearance through October. Pair with trailing flowers in complementary colors for a professional-looking arrangement that withstands both late summer heat and early fall temperature fluctuations.
4. Sweet Potato Vine
Not technically a flowering plant, but the chartreuse, purple, or black foliage of sweet potato vine creates such visual impact that you won’t miss the blooms. The cascading growth habit makes it perfect for container edges, where it can spill dramatically over the sides.
Georgia gardeners love how this vigorous vine keeps growing through fall’s cooler temperatures. Combine with upright flowering plants for contrast in both color and form. Just be prepared – in Georgia’s mild climate, these vines can grow several feet in a single season!
5. Celosia
With flame-like plumes or crested flowers resembling brain coral, celosia adds unusual texture to late-season container gardens. The saturated colors – from deep reds to bright oranges and yellows – complement Georgia’s autumn landscape perfectly.
These heat-lovers continue blooming throughout September and October in most parts of the state. Their flowers hold their shape and color even as they dry, extending their ornamental value. For best results, place containers where they’ll receive morning sun but some afternoon shade during the hottest days.
6. Calibrachoa
Often called million bells, these tiny petunia lookalikes produce an astonishing number of blooms on each plant. After surviving Georgia’s summer heat, they actually perk up and perform even better when fall’s cooler temperatures arrive.
The trailing habit makes calibrachoa ideal for hanging baskets or as container edges. Unlike their petunia cousins, they don’t require deadheading to keep blooming. Choose varieties in autumn hues like orange, yellow, or deep purple for seasonal containers that transition beautifully into fall.
7. Angelonia
Known as summer snapdragon, angelonia keeps producing spikes of delicate flowers long after true snapdragons have faded in Georgia’s heat. The upright growth habit provides vertical interest in mixed containers.
These plants actually seem to enjoy Georgia’s hot, humid conditions. When other flowers are struggling in August and September, angelonia continues sending up new flower spikes. The purple, pink, or white blooms attract butterflies but resist deer browsing, making them perfect for open porches and patios.
8. Mexican Bush Sage
Just when many plants are winding down, Mexican bush sage hits its stride with dramatic spikes of fuzzy purple or white flowers. The velvety blooms appear in abundance from September through November in most parts of Georgia.
Hummingbirds can’t resist these nectar-rich flowers, making this sage a wildlife magnet for late-season containers. The silvery-green foliage looks attractive even before blooming begins. Choose a larger container as these plants can reach 3-4 feet tall when happy, creating a stunning focal point for fall displays.
9. Coleus
Who needs flowers when foliage can be this spectacular? Modern coleus varieties maintain their brilliant leaf patterns and colors well into fall, especially in Georgia’s extended growing season. The kaleidoscope of available colors ranges from lime green to burgundy, often with contrasting edges or veining.
Many newer varieties can handle more sun than their shade-loving ancestors. Position containers where they’ll receive morning light but afternoon shade for best color development. Pinch back any flower spikes to keep plants bushy and focused on producing those gorgeous leaves through October.
10. Chrysanthemums
Fall wouldn’t be complete without the classic chrysanthemum. Garden centers across Georgia fill with these autumn stars in September, offering instant color for porches and patios. Choose early-blooming varieties for the longest display period.
Unlike northern states where mums are often treated as annuals, Georgia’s mild climate allows these plants to be perennial in many areas. After enjoying the fall show, plant them in garden beds before winter for years of repeated blooms. Look for cushion varieties that maintain a tidy, mounded shape in containers.
11. Diamond Frost Euphorbia
Creating a cloud-like effect in containers, this airy plant produces hundreds of tiny white flowers that look like diamond dust floating above delicate foliage. The ethereal texture provides perfect contrast to bolder fall flowers.
Georgia gardeners love how this tough plant handles both summer heat and cooler fall temperatures with equal grace. It never needs deadheading yet blooms continuously until frost. Use as a filler in mixed containers where it will weave between larger plants, softening the overall arrangement while adding sophisticated texture.
12. Sedum
Succulents make excellent container plants for Georgia’s late summer heat, and tall sedum varieties offer the added bonus of fall flowers. The flat clusters of tiny star-shaped blooms begin as pale green, then mature to pink or rusty red as autumn progresses.
The fleshy leaves store water, making these plants remarkably drought-tolerant once established. ‘Autumn Joy’ remains the classic variety, but newer cultivars like ‘Autumn Fire’ offer improved performance. Place containers in full sun where the flower heads will catch low autumn light, creating a magical glow in late afternoon.
13. Persian Shield
The iridescent purple leaves of Persian shield create a stunning focal point in fall containers. The metallic sheen seems to intensify as nights grow cooler, with new growth showing the most vivid coloration throughout Georgia’s extended autumn.
This tropical plant performs beautifully in partial shade, making it perfect for porches or areas that receive filtered light. The dramatic foliage pairs wonderfully with orange or yellow flowering plants for a classic fall color combination. In south Georgia, it may even survive winter in protected locations.
14. Pansies & Violas
While most gardeners wait until October to plant these cool-season favorites, getting a head start in late August or early September gives pansies and violas time to establish before winter. Plant in partially shaded locations until temperatures moderate.
Choose heat-tolerant varieties like the ‘Cool Wave’ series for best late summer performance in Georgia. These cheerful flowers with face-like markings will bloom sporadically through fall, take a brief rest during the coldest weeks, then burst into magnificent display when spring arrives. Their trailing habit makes them perfect for container edges.