Let’s face facts: fall isn’t just a season, it’s a feeling. Or, rather, it’s a kaleidoscope of feelings – the crunch of leaves underfoot, that sudden chill in the air, an irresistible scent of spiced cinnamon… you get the picture. So, what if we told you that you could bottle up all of that autumnal goodness in a cozy fall container recipe?
Color has, of course, always been a staple of fall and winter container gardening, but there’s more to building a striking display than buying up all the bright fall flowers for pots you can find. Especially if you want something that’s as fragrant and long-lasting as it is beautiful.
“In mild-climate regions where leaves don’t blaze red in October, gardeners are redefining autumn through scent, color tone, and texture,” says Shireen Zia, an award-winning designer and principal of EcoGardens Landscape Design, who dubs this ‘the pumpkin spice garden’ trend. So, how to go about trying it for ourselves?
The Pumpkin Spice Garden Planter
When designing your cozy fall container, Shireen suggests you strive to include a ‘color palette that leans on burnished foliage and cinnamon-scented herbs that thrive through longer, warmer seasons’.
To that end, then, she suggests using a specific mix of scented herbs, fall blooms, and richly coloured foliage that appeals to both the eyes and the nose. ‘It’s earthy, spicy, and nostalgic,’ says Shireen promisingly.
Let’s break it down, then…
1. Coral Bells
To anchor your display, add a coral bells (Heuchera) in a warm autumn shade such as ‘Caramel’, ‘Cinnamon Curl’, ‘Peach Flambé’, or the award-winning 'Toffee Tart' from Walmart. These bring gorgeous foliage contrast, with ruffled leaves in russet, gold, or burgundy tones.
Heuchera is a hardy perennial for Zones 4-9, meaning it’ll keep its colour through much of winter and return strong in spring.
2. Cinnamon Scented Geranium
A must for any cozy fall container, cinnamon scented geranium (Pelargonium ‘Ardwick Cinnamon’) releases a spicy, comforting scent every time you brush past, with soft silver-green leaves that shimmer in low autumn light. It’s a tender perennial, hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9-10, but it will thrive as an annual in cooler regions right up until the first hard frost.
‘I love it for its velvety leaves and spicy scent,’ says Shireen.
If you’re in Zones 6-8, simply bring it indoors to a sunny windowsill over winter and enjoy that cinnamon fragrance all year round. It’s a tricky one to track down, as it’s quite a rare plant, but you can pick up a Cinnamon Scented Geranium from Mountain Valley Growers.
3. Thyme
Thyme is another great way to add a layer of scent and structure to your cozy fall container, but try to choose a creeping variety such as Thymus serpyllum (you can buy a ready-to-go creeping thyme plant at Walmart) or a fragrant one like lemon thyme for extra appeal.
Hardy in Zones 4-9, depending on the variety, thyme can take light frost and provides a trailing, evergreen edge that softens the look of the pot. It also pairs perfectly with the pelargonium’s preference for free-draining soil and good sunlight.
A Few Supporting Players
For a more abundant look, it’s worth layering a few other plants into your cozy fall container recipe. A small ornamental grass like Carex testacea (Zones 6-9) or blue fescue (Zones 4-8), for example, adds gentle movement and texture, while trailing ivy (Hedera helix, Zones 4-9) gives structure and continuity once other plants slow down.
You could even tuck in a few violas or pansies for cheerful pops of colour that last through the holidays. Or, if you prefer, you could add a ‘cluster of ornamental pumpkins or winter squash for a playful harvest nod,’ suggests Shireen.
Once you have all your plants together, place the pelargonium at the centre of a medium-sized container, with the heuchera and grass to one side and thyme (and optional ivy) trailing around the rim.
Be sure to use something like Amazon’s Miracle-Gro Potting Mix with added grit for drainage, and position your container somewhere it will be able to bask in about 4-6 hours of sunlight daily.
Water sparingly once temperatures drop and stop feeding by late fall to let plants naturally slow their growth. In colder climates, overwinter the pelargonium indoors, but leave thyme and heuchera outside with a light mulch to protect roots.
‘This is all about celebrating abundance, scent, and slow transitions,’ says Shireen, ‘so go in with the aim of creating a perennial sense of warmth and comfort in your container garden that glows year-round.’
Hey, as long as it looks lush and smells incredible, we’re sold. Still, there’s something to be said for a little reminder that the garden’s sensory pleasures don’t have to stop when the leaves fall. Happy planting…
