Late summer sees the end of the beauty of geraniums, petunias and other summer flowers. Other balcony plants with brightly colored blossoms, brightly colored leaves and red berries now ensure an atmospheric color scheme in autumn. Warm tones dominate in daring compositions, from warm orange and rich red to furious blackberry violet. With these 30 flowers and plants for August, September and October, autumn is making a colorful splash on your balcony for a crowning end to the year.

Inspirations for August and September

The approaching end of the summer season is no reason to enjoy pastoral calm on the balcony. On the contrary, with the following autumn balcony plants, you will herald a transition into winter that is worth seeing.

flower

Cranesbill (Geranium hybrid 'Rozanne')

The violet-blue flowers with the decorative white eye transform the autumnal balcony into a fairy tale. In this selection, the premium variety 'Rozanne' represents the large cranesbill variety family. In contrast to the optically related pelargoniums, geraniums easily last until the first frost.

  • Flowering period: May to November
  • Growth height: 30 to 60 cm
cranesbill

Purple Bells (Heuchera hybrid 'Mocha')

This colorful purple bell is ideal for all planters with a volume of 5 litres. When the creamy-white flowers rise above the dark red-brown decorative leaves, the short-lived summer flowers are quickly forgotten. After flowering, the variegated leaves linger on the plant throughout the winter without fading.

  • Flowering period: late August to early November
  • Growth height: 30 to 50 cm
Purplebells

Dusky blue nettle (Agastache rugosa hybrid 'Black Adder')

The grandiose blue nettle inspires with dark blue-violet flower spikes that stretch tautly upright into the sky. The thinly hairy, heart-shaped leaves underline the natural beauty of the East Asian ornamental and aromatic plant, which is one of the most impressive balcony flowers from late summer.

  • Flowering period: August to early/mid-November
  • Growth height: 60 to 80 cm
Dark blue nettle, sweet nettle

Carpet Myrtle Aster (Aster ericoides 'Snowflurry')

The dainty, white cup-shaped flowers of these balcony flowers appear like a pre-winter snow flurry. The filigree, linear leaves, which are only shed late in the year, create a particularly full appearance. With their creeping growth, the carpet myrtle asters stage themselves as hanging balcony plants for hanging baskets and boxes in autumn.

  • Flowering time: September to November
  • Growth length: 20 to 30 cm

Goldhair Aster (Aster linosyris)

Fairytale blooms are not reserved for summer, as the gold-haired aster proves. The golden-yellow flower heads compete with the autumn sun on the balcony and are also a feast for the eyes with their woolly seeds. Thanks to a robust winter hardiness and the wiry stems, the decorative aspect is retained until late winter.

  • Flowering period: June to November
  • Growth height: 40 to 60 cm

Bearded Beard (Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Kew Blue')

Flowering subshrubs are particularly advantageous as autumnal balcony plants. Windy days and cool nights cannot harm the robust pieces of jewellery, such as this beard flower. Rather, the dense, deep blue clusters of flowers on the taut, upright, silvery-grey shoots create eye-catching accents.

  • Flowering time: end of June until the first frost
  • Growth height: 60 to 80 cm
beard flower

Ringworm (Chrysogonum virginianum)

If you want balcony flowers with a long flowering period and shapely leaves, you are well advised to go with gold baskets. The golden-yellow cup flowers adorn the unique perennials incessantly from summer to late autumn and serve as a valuable pasture for bees and butterflies. The 'Andre Viette' variety grows smaller than the pure species and forms dense mats of flowers in boxes and troughs.

  • Flowering period: May to November
  • Growth height: 5 to 25 cm

Spanish daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus 'sea of flowers')

These balcony flowers keep what the variety name promises. With graceful charm, they contribute their white-pink flowers to the imaginative autumn planting. The little beauties are excellently suited as underplanting in pots and large window boxes.

  • Flowering time: June until the first frost
  • Growth height: 20 to 30 cm

Penstemon (Penstemon fruticosus 'Catherine de la Mere')

Where a sea of azure blue trumpet flowers spreads out on the autumnal balcony, the penstemon takes center stage. The multi-award-winning balcony flowers inspire with a long flowering period, provided that the withered flowers are cleaned regularly. To create a motley appearance, simply combine the 'Praecox Nanus Rondo' variety mix, which thrives in various shades of pink and purple.

  • Flowering period: June to October
  • Growth height: 30 to 40 cm
barbel

Tip: Boxes for autumn planting should be as deep and wide as possible. The larger the volume, the better the roots of balcony plants are protected from frost. A drainage made of potsherds effectively prevents waterlogging after a downpour.

ornamental foliage plants

Silver Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium 'Lambrook Mist')

On the large balcony, majestic plants in large 20 liter pots serve as scaffolding. An excellent candidate for autumn is the silvery wormwood, whose delicate leaves emphasize the colors of neighboring flowering balcony plants. Thanks to a good-natured cut tolerance, high-spirited growth can be easily regulated with scissors.

  • Flowering period: July to September
  • Growth height: 80 cm

Pied Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea 'Variegata')

Cascades of white and colorful decorative leaves are the strength of these lush balcony plants. In boxes, troughs and hanging baskets, the variety likes to lie down at the feet of tightly upright balcony flowers. Unlike the pure species, the hybrid is not fully hardy. The plant makes up for this shortcoming with an aromatic scent emanating from its pretty leaves.

  • Growth height: 15 to 20 cm
  • Hardiness: up to - 12 degrees Celsius
White Pied Gundermann

Silver Leaf Purple Bells (Heuchera Hybride 'Mint Frost')

The short summer flowering period is not the focus of these balcony plants. Rather, the silverleaf purple bells only emerge to their full beauty in early autumn. The shapely, mint green leaves are streaked with dark green veins. When the temperatures drop in late autumn, the foliage turns a soft pink, which harmonises beautifully with the reddish stems.

  • Flowering period: June and July
  • Growth height: 25 to 50 cm
Silverleaf Crimson Bells

flowering grasses

Diamond Grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha)

The diamond grass can confidently do without flowers and is still a feast for the eyes on the autumn balcony. The pretty riding grass species scores with fluffy, soft, silvery-pink spikes in which the dewdrops glisten like jewels in the morning. At the end of summer, the elegantly overhanging culms take on a rich bronze tone, which rounds off the creative autumn planting in the 10 liter pot.

  • Spike blossom: September to November
  • Growth height: 70 to 80 cm

Small fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln')

With graceful elegance, the lamp cleaner grass joins balcony flowers on the late summer balcony. Its picturesque spike blossom can definitely compete with colorful perennials. The hemispherical growth is formed by narrow leaves, which stand upright in the center of the clump and curve slightly at the edge. In the course of the year, the stalks change color from medium green to copper-colored.

  • Spike blossom: September to November
  • Growth height: 70 to 90 cm
Pennisetum grass

White spike grass (Chasmanthium latifolium 'River Mist')

The loose, casually overhanging spikelets are not the only adornment of the shapely clumps of grass. The successful cultivar 'River Mist' thrives with stalks that are decorated with white-colored vertical stripes. The lovely ornamental grass remains more compact and smaller than the pure species, so that it is often integrated into the autumn and winter design of balconies and terraces. In addition, the ocher-colored ears of corn as vase decorations convey the autumn mood of nature into the house.

  • Spike blossom: August to October
  • Growth height: 60 to 80 cm

Decorative options for October

In golden October, the balcony should not be empty. The following options for autumn planting introduce you to plants and flowers that even the first cold nights do not immediately buy the floral cutting.

balcony flowers

Autumn chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum hybrid 'Herbstrubin')

Representing the colorful crowd of autumn chrysanthemums, we present a premium variety with ruby red, double flowers. Originating from Russian and Asian parent plants, 'Herbstrubin' can withstand frosty temperatures down to -10 degrees Celsius. The autumn chrysanthemum inspires with its intensely colored blossoms on tightly upright and stable stalks on the balcony and terrace well into the Advent season, provided that it is granted a sunny and sheltered location.

  • Flowering period: October to November/December
  • Growth height: 100 to 110 cm
chrysanthemum

Autumn cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium 'Album')

Behind her delicate silhouette lies a resilient constitution. In contrast to their conspecifics on the windowsill, autumn cyclamen know how to assert themselves as balcony flowers against the rigors of autumn and winter. After a graceful flowering period in innocent white, the pointed, triangular, subtly variegated ornamental leaves set decorative accents in boxes and tubs.

  • Flowering period: late July to early November
  • Growth height: 10 to 15 cm

Winter Aster (Chrysanthemum x hortorum 'Bee')

Winter asters embody the ideal image of blooming balcony flowers for the planter, the hanging basket or the pot. The 'Bienchen' variety brings light into the dark days with its deep yellow, double flowers. Associated with other varieties of these flowers, you can conjure up splashes of color on the balcony and terrace with 'Bienchen', the dark red flowering hybrid 'Brennpunkt' or the bronze dwarf variety 'Kleiner Bernstein'.

  • Flowering time: September to November
  • Growth height: 60 to 80 cm

Candleweed (Polygonum amplexicaule 'Inverleith')

If you have a soft spot for pretty flower candles on the autumnal balcony, the small varieties of knotweed are a good choice. The successful cultivar 'Inverleith' puts on its flowers before the end of summer and lasts until late autumn without being impressed by the first frosts. Place the flowers close together, 25 cm apart, supporting each other. Alternatively, you can use the prostrate habit for planting hanging baskets or hanging baskets.

  • Flowering period: July to November
  • Growth height: 40 to 60 cm
candle knotweed

Tip: When planting in the fall, think about spring. By placing flower bulbs for short-stemmed early bloomers in the box, crocuses, hyacinths and springflowers appear as if by magic with their graceful flowers at the end of winter.

Flowering small shrubs

Winter heather (Erica darleyensis)

Bud bloomers are the perfect balcony plants to create a decorative autumn planting that doesn’t lose its beauty in winter. On the heather family, the sepals create the color aspect without the buds opening. This has the advantage that no pollination takes place, which extends the flowering period to many weeks and months. Furthermore, wet and cold weather conditions cannot damage the bud blossoms. The varieties 'Kramer's Rote' and 'White Perfection' are among the bestsellers in the trade because they contrast with their pink and white colors.

  • Flowering time: November/December to April/May
  • Growth height: 30 to 40 cm

Snow Heather (Erica carnea 'Golden Starlet')

Planted in boxes and pots with foresight between September and November, your balcony will not be without flowers in late winter thanks to snow heather. Until the dainty, white flowers appear, 'Golden Starlet' scores with countless, needle-thin leaves, which turn from greenish-yellow to pure yellow over the course of winter. With its small growth, snow heather is ideal as an underplanting for large autumn balcony plants in order to create a lush overall picture with its cushions.

  • Flowering time: February to April
  • Growth height: 10 to 15 cm

Bay viburnum (Viburnum tinus 'Gwenllian')

Evergreen, blooming balcony plants for the fall are a rarity. The laurel snowball is such an exceptional phenomenon. When the dark red buds develop above the dark green, lustrous foliage in October, 'Gwennllian' anticipates an unusual flowering period that begins in November. The pink-white flowers stay with you throughout the winter, which hardy balcony flowers usually do not succeed in doing. The compact shrub brings out its picturesque beauty very well as a solitary plant in the tub.

  • Flowering time: November to April
  • Growth height: 100 to 150 cm
Bay viburnum, laurel viburnum

ornamental fruit plants

Gaultheria procumbens

Among the classic balcony plants for skilful autumn planting, the cloudberry has earned a regular place. Once the pink-white blossoms have spread their floral charm in August, they transform into seductively scented berries in the following weeks. With this wonderful combination of evergreen leaves and red fruit decoration, carpet berries steal the show from the balcony flowers.

  • Flowering period: July and August
  • Growth height: 10 to 20 cm

Peat myrtle (Pernettya mucronata)

The dwarf tree comes from the heather family. With a stiffly upright stature, the peat myrtle shines with large, crimson or white berries, under which the evergreen foliage almost disappears. Peat myrtle is a good choice for embellishing partially shaded locations on the balcony and terrace. She likes to join asters, winter heather or ornamental grasses to banish autumnal melancholy with a cheerful play of colours.

  • Flowering period: May to July
  • Growth height: 50 to 100 cm

ornamental foliage plants

Steppe Spurge (Euphorbia seguieriana ssp. niciciana)

The multifaceted family of spurge plants likes to participate in the autumnal decoration of balconies and terraces with the hardy steppe spurge. The perennial of the year 2013 boasts yellow mock flowers and blue-grey leaves. The balcony plants carry their pretty foliage from autumn to winter, because they are hardy down to - 28 degrees Celsius.

  • False flowering: from June
  • Growth height: 30 to 40 cm
Steppe Spurge

Stonecrop (Sedum Telephium hybrid 'Karfunkelstein')

The atmospheric play of colors of 'Karfunkelstein' begins with dark red buds that unfold into creamy white, dark pink and brown-red flowers. The wintry seed pods above the blue-grey foliage are also a feast for the eyes. In contrast to many other balcony plants, however, sedum plants gain in beauty from year to year and remain loyal to you for up to 20 years.

  • Flowering period: July to October
  • Growth height: 40 to 50 cm
sedum

White-bordered Funkie (Hosta hybrid 'El Nino')

So that shady corners on the autumnal balcony are equipped with green liveliness, the white-edged Funkie 'El Nino' is ready for you. Since it remains significantly smaller than the mighty garden hostas, the ornamental leaf plant likes to take its place in the large box or pot.

  • Flowering time: July
  • Growth height: 30 to 40 cm
White-bordered Funkie

Variegated grasses

Blue fescue (Festuca cinerea 'Elijah Blue')

Ice-blue blades of grass and hemispherical growth characterize this beautiful, hardy ornamental grass. The sunnier the location, the more intense the color will appear.In addition, all blue fescue are hardy to -34 degrees Celsius, which of course depends on a winter coat made of jute or foil in the planter.

  • Spike blossom: July
  • Growth height: 10 to 25 cm
blue fescue

Foxy sedge (Carex buchananii)

With the fox-red sedge, playful lightness finds its way into the autumn and winter balcony. Because the reddish-brown, filigree culms are spirally twisted at the end of the stem. Other ornamental grasses cannot boast of this attribute.

  • Spike blossom: July
  • Growth height: 30 to 50 cm

Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii 'Icedance')

Hardy, shade tolerant and elegantly decorated like a pinstripe suit. With these attributes, the Japanese sedge 'Icedance' is recommended as a solitary plant in a tub or combined with balcony flowers in a large planter. Since the Asian ornamental grass does not turn green, it heralds the beginning of the new balcony season in early spring with a pretty spike blossom.

  • Spike blossom: April to May
  • Growth height: 30 to 40 cm

Category:

Garden plants