As I flipped the calendar over to November a few days ago, I really couldn't believe October was behind me. It just seems to have gone by so fast, though the rapidly cooling weather is definitely telling me daily that winter is creeping in.
My Halloween decor is still up, and I plan to hold onto it for a couple more weeks before finding creative ways to get rid of pumpkins and letting Christmas seep its way into my home.
Looking around my house on November 1st had me thinking about next fall, though: what do I want to do differently? Then I saw this Instagram snap from actress, musician, and garden-lover, Zooey Deschanel, and had an idea: maybe next year I could switch up my fall color palette like she did.
Sitting on the grass looking at the sky in a state of daydream, Zooey posed with three pumpkins – a large one cradled on her lap and two smaller varieties sitting off to her right-hand side.
"Green pumpkins are the new orange pumpkins," she penned in the post's caption, and her followers adored the switch-up in color.
"They go better with your eyes," gushed one user, as others followed suit, telling her how lovely her pumpkin picks were.
To help you find fall inspo for next season's pumpkin growing or shopping, I asked a gardening pro to help identify what Zooey's pumpkins are. Next stop, creating a fall Pinterest board!
What Pumpkin Varieties Did Zooey Grow?
Zooey opted for a gorgeous trio of pumpkins in a similar gradient – perfect for creating visual interest while sticking to a theme. Here are the varieties she championed this year.
1. Jarrahdale
Siobhan Shaw, co-founder of Growing to Give, often makes pumpkin displays and identified each of Zooey's pumpkins from her own fall celebrations.
The largest pumpkin in the pic is a Jarrahdale, characterized by its stunning color.
"The soft, slate-blue pumpkin Zooey’s holding is a Jarrahdale – an heirloom from Western Australia known for its powdery blue-grey skin and deeply ribbed, slightly flattened shape," says Siobhan.
"It’s as sculptural as it is seasonal. Inside, it hides a surprise: bright orange flesh that’s sweet, smooth, and perfect for pies or roasting. That vivid contrast – blue outside, orange within – is a decorator’s dream."
2. Heritage Green
The medium-sized pumpkin sat next to Zooey is one Siobhan identified as a green heritage variety, often found on farm stands.
They make for a great decoration if you're looking for something with a bit of pattern as opposed to sleek uniformity.
"With its mottled olive skin and faint striping, it’s rustic, timeless, and perfect for harvest displays," says Siobhan.
3. Mellow Yellow
The last of Zooey's pumpkins strays from her green theme, but not so far as to disrupt the overall color palette. The pale yellow of her Mellow Yellow variety is the perfect accent color, standing out just enough to elevate the look of her decor without seeming out of place. Technically a hybrid, Mellow Yellow has all the character of an heirloom pumpkin.
"Small but full of charm, it adds a soft counterpoint to the richer tones around it," says Siobhan.
If you're thinking of straying outside of traditional orange pumpkin colors but don't know where to start, why not try adding some of these soft yellow ones among your usual orange batch? The two tones work super well together and stick to the colors of autumn leaves.
Shop Pumpkin Seeds
If you love Zooey's large pumpkin, you're in luck. To have some for yourself next fall, plant up the seeds in late spring to early summer once the winter chill has left the air.
These Japanese heirloom pumpkins grow gorgeous light green stripes, perfect for adding a pop of pattern to next year's decor.
Mellow yellow pumpkins also come in a larger size, like this one. I carved one of these with my family last year and they make great jack-o-lanterns!
