Beyond Mums: Adding Lasting Color and Interest to Your Fall Garden
POMONA, NY, October 7, 2026 — Pumpkins, mums, cornstalks and hay bales are welcome additions to front yards in the fall, however, seasonal color doesn’t need to end there. For homeowners in the Hudson Valley, Rockland County and Bergen County, there are many flowers, grasses and ornamental vegetables that can bring color and interest to gardens and containers as temperatures begin to cool.
Down to Earth Living in Pomona recommends several plants for adding fall color beyond traditional mums:
Plants to Consider
Ornamental Peppers - Colorful fruits in shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple provide a bright addition to containers and garden beds.
Ornamental Millet - Tall, upright plants with textured flower heads add height and interest to fall containers and plantings.
Fall Pansies and Violas - Cool-weather favorites that produce colorful flowers and can continue blooming as temperatures drop.
Hardy Chrysanthemums - come in a variety of colors and flower shapes and will give reliable autumn color as long as they are planted and looked after properly, returning in the subsequent years.
Ornamental Cabbage and Kale - Grown primarily for their colorful foliage, these cool-season plants add shades of green, purple, pink, and white to fall containers and garden beds.
Hardy Asters - Late-season perennials that produce daisy-like flowers in shades of purple, pink, blue and white and provide a source of food for pollinators.
Sedums - Varieties such as 'Autumn Joy' develop deeper pink, red, and russet tones as the season progresses, adding both color and texture.
Ornamental Grasses - Grasses such as switchgrass and little bluestem provide height, movement, and attractive seedheads that can extend garden interest into fall.
Add Color with Foliage
Fall color isn't limited to flowers. Plants with colorful foliage can provide interest throughout the season.
Heucheras - Available in a range of foliage colors and patterns, making them useful in containers and garden beds.
Coleus - Offers colorful foliage in a wide variety of patterns and shades and works well in containers.
Purple-leaf Basil - Provides dark foliage and can be used as both an ornamental and edible plant.
Swiss Chard - Colorful stems and foliage make it an attractive addition to edible and ornamental gardens.
“Fall offers plenty of opportunities to add color to your garden,” said Stuart Leventhal, owner of Down to Earth Living. “Pansies, asters, ornamental cabbage and kale, and other fall plants can bring new color and interest to the landscape as summer flowers fade.”
With a variety of fall plants available, homeowners can refresh their gardens and containers with color, texture and seasonal interest well into the cooler months.
Down to Earth Living Garden Center encourages customers to bring in photos of their garden or backyard, as well as images that inspire them, and speak with Down to Earth experts for personalized guidance on how to bring their visions to life. The team assists with selecting plants, shrubs, containers, and statuary to achieve the desired look. The expanded indoor plant showroom is open all year, and free repotting is available with any plant or pot purchase.
Down to Earth Living, now in its 56th year, is a Garden Center serving Rockland, Bergen, and Orange counties and the Hudson Valley, offering 12.5 acres filled with perennials, flowers, shrubs, and trees, with new plants arriving weekly. The 10,000-square-foot showroom features a selection of contemporary, classic, traditional, and transitional teak, aluminum, and all-weather dining and deep-seated furniture. Located at 1040 Route 45 in Pomona, N.Y. For more information, call 845-354-8500 or visit www.dteliving.com.
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