October is a perfect month to refresh container gardens in Pennsylvania. Mixing textures, colors, and seasonal flowers turns simple pots into garden highlights.
Cool-weather plants thrive in containers when chosen carefully. With the right combination, your patio or porch can feel full of life this fall.
1. Ornamental Kale
Ornamental kale looks like a giant flower made of ruffled leaves in shades of purple, pink, and creamy white. Cold weather actually makes these beauties even more colorful, which is perfect for Pennsylvania’s October chill.
Plant them in medium to large containers with good drainage. They can handle temperatures down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, so they’ll stick around long after your summer flowers have given up.
Pair them with mums or pansies for a stunning fall display that neighbors will admire.
2. Chrysanthemums
Nothing says autumn in Pennsylvania quite like a pot overflowing with colorful mums. Available in practically every fall shade imaginable, from deep burgundy to sunny yellow, these classics deliver serious flower power.
Water them regularly since container soil dries out faster than garden beds. Mums prefer full sun but can tolerate some afternoon shade, making them flexible for different porch locations.
Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers throughout October and even into November if the weather cooperates.
3. Ornamental Cabbage
Often confused with its cousin ornamental kale, cabbage has smoother, rounder leaves that form tight rosettes. The colors intensify as temperatures drop, creating stunning centerpieces for your Pennsylvania containers.
These hardy plants can survive light snow and freezing temperatures without batting an eye. Mix different colors in one large container for dramatic impact, or use single plants as focal points.
They grow slowly, so what you plant in October will maintain its size and beauty for weeks.
4. Pansies
With their cheerful little faces and incredible cold tolerance, pansies bring smiles even on gray October days. Pennsylvania gardeners love them because they bloom right through light frosts and sometimes even survive winter.
Plant them densely in containers for maximum color impact. They come in solid colors or fun combinations with darker centers that look like tiny faces.
Keep them watered and remove faded flowers regularly. Morning sun with afternoon shade works best, though they adapt to various light conditions around your home.
5. Asters
Butterflies and bees absolutely adore asters, making these daisy-like flowers both beautiful and beneficial for Pennsylvania pollinators preparing for winter. Purple, pink, and white blooms cover compact varieties perfect for containers.
Choose dwarf cultivars specifically bred for pot growing rather than tall garden types. They bloom prolifically in October when many other flowers have finished their show.
Place containers in full sun locations and water when the top inch of soil feels dry to maintain healthy blooms throughout the month.
6. Sedum
Succulents aren’t just for summer, and sedum proves it beautifully. Varieties like Autumn Joy develop gorgeous pink or bronze flower clusters that deepen in color as October progresses across Pennsylvania.
Their thick, fleshy leaves store water, making them incredibly low-maintenance for busy gardeners. They need very little watering once established and actually prefer slightly dry conditions.
Combine them with ornamental grasses or trailing plants for texture contrast. They’ll continue looking attractive even after frost touches them, adding interest well into late fall.
7. Ornamental Peppers
Tiny peppers in shades of purple, orange, yellow, and red create living jewel boxes in October containers. Pennsylvania’s cooler nights actually enhance their vibrant colors, making them stand out even more.
Position them in full sun for the best color development and fruit production. While technically edible, ornamental varieties are grown for looks rather than flavor since they’re quite spicy.
They handle light frosts reasonably well but should be brought indoors or covered if temperatures threaten to drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit overnight.
8. Ornamental Grasses
Graceful grasses add movement and texture that other plants simply can’t match. Varieties like fountain grass develop feathery plumes that catch Pennsylvania’s October breezes and morning light beautifully.
They’re incredibly tough and drought-tolerant once established in containers. Choose compact varieties bred specifically for pots rather than larger landscape types that might outgrow their space.
Grasses look fantastic mixed with flowering plants or standing alone as architectural focal points. Their neutral tones complement any color scheme you’re working with this fall season.
9. Heuchera
Also called coral bells, heuchera offers stunning foliage in colors from lime green to deep purple that looks amazing in October containers. Pennsylvania gardeners appreciate their ability to brighten shady spots where other plants struggle.
The leaves maintain their color even as temperatures drop, providing reliable beauty. Some varieties send up delicate flower spikes, but the real star is the foliage itself.
They’re perennials that can survive Pennsylvania winters in containers if properly mulched, giving you a head start on next year’s plantings while looking fabulous now.
10. Violas
Smaller cousins to pansies, violas pack the same cold tolerance into tinier packages with more delicate flowers. They bloom incredibly prolifically throughout October in Pennsylvania, creating carpets of color in your containers.
Their compact size makes them perfect for smaller pots or as fillers around larger plants. Mix multiple colors together for a confetti-like effect that brightens doorsteps and windowsills.
Violas actually prefer cooler weather and may bloom sporadically through mild Pennsylvania winters, potentially giving you flowers on warm December days.
11. Dusty Miller
Silvery-gray foliage makes dusty miller the perfect companion plant for October containers in Pennsylvania. Its soft, fuzzy leaves create stunning contrast against colorful mums, pansies, or ornamental kale.
This plant tolerates both sun and partial shade, adapting to whatever location you need to fill. The neutral silver color complements absolutely any color scheme you’re working with this season.
Dusty miller handles cold temperatures well and often looks fresh even after light frosts. Use it as a thriller, filler, or spiller depending on the variety you choose.
12. Wintergreen
Glossy evergreen leaves and bright red berries make wintergreen a charming addition to October containers across Pennsylvania. This native plant actually thrives in cooler temperatures and appreciates the state’s autumn climate.
Wintergreen prefers acidic soil and partial shade, making it ideal for spots where sun-lovers won’t perform well. The leaves release a minty fragrance when brushed or crushed, adding a sensory element.
As a bonus, wintergreen is a true perennial that survives harsh Pennsylvania winters, continuing to look attractive even under snow with its evergreen foliage and persistent berries.