Stunning Fall Container Plants for Commercial Properties

There’s nothing wrong with a simple planter of fall pansies, but for real impact on your commercial property, is that the best you can do?

Not when you put pros on the job. 

Level Green Landscaping account managers and plant lovers Emily Guilford, Ryan Rimshaw and Josh Burton share their top pro tips for stunning fall planters, from their favorite fall plants to how to combine them for unique and impressive displays that stand out from the rest. 

What are the best fall container plants? How do you create impressive outdoor planter arrangements for fall? 

Keep reading to learn more about container plants for fall, including:

• First, Why Should You Care About Fall Planters?
• Small Evergreens Are Perfect Centerpiece Plants
• Mums Are Fall Planter Favorites
• Violas and Pansies Pack a Punch
• Ornamental Cabbages and Kale Add Fun Texture
• Dusty Miller ‘Silver Dust’ Shines
• English Ivy for the Finishing Touch
• Don’t Forget to Add Height and Texture
• Creative Combinations for Fall Planters That Wow
• Add Fall and Holiday Fun to Container Plants for Fall
• Fall Plants for Commercial Spaces: The Best Spots For Pots

First, Why Should You Care About Fall Planters? 

By the end of the summer, the planting season is over, right? 

Not here in the Mid-Atlantic, where mild temperatures and sunny days continue right through fall.

People are still strolling to work, shopping, enjoying outdoor dining, running errands and relaxing at outdoor areas at home and at work. They still expect impressive landscaping. 

Yes, those planters of summer flowers you’ve had for months are past their prime. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to stow away your planters. 

A whole host of new potted plants for autumn are ready to impress: 

Small Evergreens Are Perfect Centerpiece Plants 

Evergreens in planters? We do it all the time. 

“A spiral juniper or a boxwood can provide lasting color and height in a planter throughout the winter,” Guilford says. 

Trailing juniper is a top fall planter choice for Burton.

“Trailing junipers come in blue and gold, can be left year round and the longer they’re left in place the more they trail,” he says. 

Burton also loves the blue-ish green Blue Point juniper, “an evergreen centerpiece that is not the standard green,” he says. 

Hollies are among the best fall container plants, Burton says. They offer a nice green centerpiece with the bonus of bright red berries. 

Rimshaw likes to anchor fall planters with evergreens, too. His top picks include ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae.

“It’s a large upright plant that has good winter color,” Rimshaw says. He likes the open spaces between the branches that give it an airy look and make it easy to add lights and decorations for the holidays.

‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae also tops his list.

“It comes in multiple sizes and has a solid green upright form,” Rimshaw says. 

Another Rimshaw favorite? ‘Blue Ice’ cypress.

“This has a very unique shade of blue with great aroma,” Rimshaw says. “It stands out at all times of the year, but especially in winter.”

Mums Are Fall Planter Favorites 

Showy, colorful mums are among the most popular container plants for fall. They’re sturdy, add fluffy texture, and come in a dazzling array of colors.

There’s a hue for every container. And they mix well with other plants, turning one ho-hum mum into a feast for the eyes. 

Violas and Pansies Pack a Punch 

Outdoor planter arrangements for fall often feature pansies and violas, pretty flowers that are sturdier than they look. 

“Violas hold their flowers even after frost and have good potential to return for the following spring,” Rimshaw says. “And there are many colors to choose from.”

Burton often “color blocks” pansies for more impact. Instead of mixing several colors of flowers together, color blocking arranges them in clearly defined areas of color. A mass of purple pansies often has bigger impact than a mix of purple, yellow and white.  

Ornamental Cabbages and Kale Add Fun Texture 

Textured, ruffly ornamental cabbages and kale are top fall plants for containers. They come in lots of color combinations, from cream and green to purple and red. 

“These can fill out planters while adding some color and different textures,” Guilford says. 

Rimshaw likes how the reds and purples of these ruffly plants contrast with yellow, orange and white pansies or violas. 

“It’s a different plant texture than the evergreens or flowers,” he notes. 

Dusty Miller ‘Silver Dust’ Shines 

Guilford loves this variety of dusty miller, a stunning filler plant with unique silvery gray-green leaves that are soft like felt. You’ll want to ruffle your fingers through it as you walk past. 

Dusty miller is a fall go-to for Rimshaw and Burton, too, topping the list of great fall container plants. 

“It can brighten up an area in the shade or the underside of evergreen centerpieces,” Rimshaw says. 

Adds Burton: “It can be combined with everything and anything.”

English Ivy for the Finishing Touch 

Rimshaw often chooses from several varieties of English ivy to spill over the sides of his fall containers.

Burton opts for yellow or white variegated ivy.

“They’re good color options to contrast and coordinate with your pansies,” he says. 

Don’t Forget to Add Height and Texture 

Guilford has a few go-to plants for adding height and texture to outdoor planter arrangements for fall: 

• Yellow or red twig dogwood adds dramatic height and structure.
• Ornamental grasses are great centerpiece plants, adding graceful movement in the breeze.
• Yucca adds great intriguing texture and comes in a striking purple — the perfect potted plant for autumn. 

Creative Combinations for Fall Planters That Wow 

Choosing the best fall container plants is half the challenge. Combining them for stunning outdoor planter arrangements for fall is next. 

These pros have plenty of ideas. 

“For fall planters I love to have a warmer but bright color palette,” Guilford says. 

She might start with a bright centerpiece like a red twig dogwood, ornamental grass or yucca plant. A mix of ornamental green or white cabbages and pansies might fill in around it, with bright green creeping Jenny spilling from the pot. 

Prefer a cooler palette? Guilford has you covered. 

“A few dusty miller ‘Silver Dust’ in a mix of pansies can also be a great look,” she says. 

Rimshaw shares his three favorite combinations for outdoor planter arrangements for fall: 

1. Blue Ice cypress as a centerpiece, surrounded by red ornamental kale. He’ll tuck in yellow or orange violas or pansies, some dusty miller, and add dark green English ivy spilling over the sides.
 
2. Emerald Green arborvitae as the centerpiece, surrounded by multicolored mums with pockets of dusty miller.
 
3. Green Giant arborvitae as the centerpiece, surrounded by red and purple ornamental kale and blue and white pansies. Variegated English ivy spills over the sides

Add Fall and Holiday Fun to Container Plants for Fall

Don’t stop at plants and flowers for your outdoor planter arrangements for fall.

Tuck in pumpkins and gourds for a festive fall look. Arrange autumn hay bales and cornstalks with your fall planters. 

Add branches of berries, big pine cones and strings of twinkling white lights for the holidays.

Fall Plants for Commercial Spaces: The Best Spots For Pots

Where to place your stunning fall planters? Be strategic:

• Entrances: Your entrance is automatically a focal point. Everybody who walks in or out your door will notice a spectacular container of evergreens, ornamental cabbages and fiery fall mums.
• Signage: Draw attention to your property’s signage by placing a spectacular large fall planter near it.
• Public walkways and plazas: Break up typically bare areas and attract the attention of passers-by with impressive outdoor planter arrangements for fall.
• Common areas. Make everybody’s day with striking fall containers that brighten shared spaces at home or work. 

Ready for Dazzling Container Gardens for Fall? Trust Level Green

Few things make a bigger first impression than large-scale containers filled with attention-getting plants.

Keep the interest going right through fall, with intriguing combinations styled by Level Green plant pros. 

Large container plantings are one of our favorite ways to boost curb appeal fast.

We’ll help you choose the right containers, choose show-stopping plants, and maintain them all year long.

If you’re not already a Level Green Landscaping client, we’d love to add you to our growing list of happy customers. 

Our focus is on commercial properties like offices, mixed-use sites, HOAs, municipalities and institutions in Maryland, Washington DC and parts of Virginia.

Call us at 202-544-0968 or request a free consultation online.

We’d love to hear from you.