12 Late Summer Flowers That Keep Your Containers Blooming Into Fall

As the long days of summer begin to shorten and many early-season blooms fade, it’s easy to look out at your containers and feel like your garden is starting to wind down. But late summer offers a fresh opportunity to breathe new life into your potted spaces.

With the right flowering plants, you can refresh tired-looking containers and keep your patio, balcony, or side yard vibrant well into the later weeks of the season.

Late summer flowering plants are not only beautiful—they’re also resilient. Many are heat-tolerant, long-blooming, and perfectly suited for container life.

If you’ve found yourself wishing for a mid-season refresh, or simply want to extend the color and beauty of your garden through the end of summer and into fall, this guide is for you.

Why Plant Late Summer Bloomers in Containers?

Container gardens are wonderfully flexible. Unlike planting directly in the ground, pots can be easily rearranged to suit your space, your mood, or the changing sun patterns as summer shifts toward autumn.

As some spring and early summer annuals fade, late summer bloomers step in to keep things colorful.

Adding new blooms this time of year allows you to:

Extend your garden’s color well into fall.
Replace tired or leggy plants with fresh, vibrant options.
Experiment with seasonal color palettes and new plant combinations.
Enjoy a sense of renewal during the last stretch of the growing season.

Whether you’re working with a small patio, a balcony filled with planters, or a cozy side yard garden, late summer flowering plants can transform your containers into long-lasting displays.

The Best Late Summer Flowering Plants for Container Gardens

Not all plants thrive in the intense sun and heat of late summer, but the ones that do are often some of the most rewarding. Here are some of the best flowering plants to refresh your containers this season:

1. Coneflower (Echinacea)

Echinacea Purple Coneflower Perennial flower growing on green foliage in a garden

Coneflowers are true summer workhorses. Their sturdy blooms stand tall even during stretches of heat and humidity. Available in shades of purple, pink, white, and even orange, they attract pollinators while adding bold color to your containers.

Choose a dwarf or compact variety for pots to ensure the plant has enough room to grow without becoming top-heavy.

2. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

Tall black eyed susan plants with green stems and yellow petals with brown centers

With their bright golden petals and dark centers, Black-Eyed Susans bring a cheerful, late-summer vibe to any container. They pair beautifully with ornamental grasses and other warm-toned blooms.

While they appreciate full sun, they’re surprisingly adaptable and bloom well into early fall.

3. Zinnias

Colorful and tall zinnia flowers growing on thin green stems with green foliage

Zinnias thrive in summer heat and bloom abundantly into late summer. These colorful flowers are available in nearly every shade imaginable, making them ideal for mixing and matching in container arrangements.

Regular deadheading encourages even more blooms, and they’re also perfect for cutting and bringing indoors.

4. Lantana

Pink-purple and yellow lantana flower clusters growing on green stems with green leaves

Lantana practically thrives on neglect. It loves full sun, dry conditions, and will bloom continuously until the first frost. Its clusters of tiny blooms often combine several colors in one plant, adding interest and vibrancy to your container displays.

The trailing varieties also spill beautifully over the edges of pots.

5. Geranium (Pelargonium)

Geraniums remain one of the most popular container flowers for good reason. They bloom steadily throughout the summer and into fall with very little maintenance beyond regular deadheading.

Their bright blooms stand out beautifully against their rich green foliage.

6. Dahlias

Orange and yellow dahlia flowers growing on thing green stems

Dahlias put on a stunning display from mid to late summer. While large varieties do best in garden beds, many compact or patio dahlias thrive in containers.

Their intricate blooms come in various colors, sizes, and forms, making them a beautiful focal point for late summer pots.

7. Salvia

White and purple salvia flower spikes growing on thin green stems

Salvia varieties like ‘Mystic Spires’ or ‘Victoria Blue’ produce spikes of deep blue or purple flowers that stand tall in containers. These plants are heat-tolerant, low-maintenance, and beloved by hummingbirds.

Salvia also mixes well with both flowering plants and ornamental grasses.

8. Coreopsis

Coreopsis flower with yellow petals and a yellow center growing on thin green steams

Coreopsis is another reliable bloomer known for its sunny yellow flowers that holds strong through late summer. Its delicate-looking petals belie a tough nature that handles heat and dry spells with ease, making it a great choice for container gardens.

9. Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)

Angelonia Purple Flower grows upright on thin stem

Angelonia offers upright spires of small, snapdragon-like flowers that bloom continuously in heat and humidity. It offers visual appeal and contrast thanks to its tall height and flower clusters that grow upright on thin stems.

Angelonia’s tidy growth habit makes it an ideal companion for other container plants available in shades of pink, purple, and white.

10. Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses growing in a border along a green lawn of grass

While technically not flowering plants, ornamental grasses such as Pennisetum or Carex add incredible texture, movement, and late-season interest to containers. Their feathery plumes sway in the breeze and pair perfectly with vibrant summer blooms.

11. Sedum (Stonecrop)

Sedum varieties, especially ‘Autumn Joy,’ bloom later in the season with clusters of pink or red flowers. Their succulent foliage is drought-tolerant and easy to maintain, making them ideal for hot patios or side yard spaces where watering might be inconsistent.

This is one of the easiest flowering plants to grow and it can survive some of the harshest summer conditions. It’s great for areas that experience regular heat waves! Just make sure to water in the mornings a few times a week to help the plant avoid sunburn.

12. Calibrachoa (Million Bells)

Purple and yellow million bell flowers growing in terra cotta plant

Calibrachoa offers a cascade of small, petunia-like flowers that bloom profusely until frost. Available in nearly every color, these trailing plants are perfect for hanging baskets or spilling over the edges of mixed containers.

If you love the look of petunias, million bells is an excellent alternative. It’s perfect for hanging baskets and containers – weave it into your fall porch decor!

Tips for Growing Late Summer Flowers in Containers

Once you’ve selected your plants, a few simple steps will help ensure they thrive through the end of the season:

Use a high-quality, well-draining potting mix. Container plants need excellent drainage to prevent root rot.
Fertilize regularly. A balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks will keep plants blooming.
Water deeply but less frequently. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings to encourage strong root growth.
Deadhead spent blooms. Removing faded flowers encourages continuous blooming.
Check for pests. Late summer, especially during dry spells, can bring spider mites, aphids, and whiteflies.

Design Ideas for Late Summer Containers

This is also a great time to get creative with your color palette and container design. Consider:

Warm, sunset-inspired shades: oranges, corals, deep pinks, and golds.
Mixing textures: combine upright growers like salvia or angelonia with trailing calibrachoa and a mound of zinnias.
Adding foliage plants, such as coleus, heuchera, or dusty miller, can create a beautiful contrast.
Using decorative pots: try muted terracotta, neutral ceramics, or textured planters that will transition nicely into fall.

Transitioning Containers Into Fall

As summer winds down, many of these plants can continue into early fall, especially with a few simple additions:

Tuck in miniature pumpkins, gourds, or ornamental kale.
Add fall favorites like mums or pansies to refresh your containers as temperatures cool.
Swap summer annuals for cool-season options when needed.

This gradual shift allows you to enjoy your containers well beyond Labor Day, carrying their beauty into the crisp autumn days.

With a little planning and the right plant choices, you don’t have to settle for tired containers as summer wanes. Late summer flowering plants offer bold color, interesting texture, and months of additional beauty for your patio, balcony, or side yard garden.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with new combinations or try plants you haven’t grown before—the reward is a vibrant, welcoming space that feels fresh even as the seasons begin to change.