Our Three-Step Guide to Fall Florals

First and foremost, we need to set the record straight. There are tons of flowers in season in the fall. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Mums (chrysanthemums)
• Marigolds
• Dahlias
• Sunflowers
• Scabiosa (also known as “pincushions”)
• Anemones
• Cosmos
• Lisianthus
• Roses

Your next step depends on when in the fall you’re decorating. Here’s our month-by month guide:

Late September

• Take advantage of late summer’s last rays and incorporate wheat and pampas grass into any of your fall floral arrangements–they’ll juxtapose beautifully against any bloom, but sunflowers are a particularly perfect way to signal the seasonal transition.

October

• Fall means foliage, and October is indubitably when trees are at their peak. Lean into nature’s saturated palette by creating a bouquet that borrows from nature’s display. First, grab a central floral–we love leaning into the month’s ubiquitous orange and opting for marigolds–and then dress it up with gorgeous, sparse branches–we love yellow aspens.

November

• When it comes to November, we stick to a tablescape trick as old as time: small, decorative gourds and squashes. They’re classic because they work—they’re small enough that they’re not intrusive, colorful without overpowering your table’s aesthetic, and are as clear a nod as any that the season of giving and gratitude is upon us. Play up the Cucurbita with florals in a fall palette–Emma Hampton of Roobarb Studio recommends cream, burgundy, burnt orange, and a hint of blush.

December

• Say goodbye to red and green, and hello to our favorite festive arrangement: one that puts white anemones at its center. We love their snowy vibes on their own in a bud vase, but when coupled with a few sprigs of fir, you’ve got yourself a subtle and sophisticated nod to the festive season.

We have one rule for gifting a fall floral bouquet–also borrowed from Roobarb florist Emma Hampton (as many of our floral tips are): butcher paper. Fall palettes are especially saturated, and offsetting via a natural vessel is key. If you’re arranging in your own home, not gifting, go for a vase that feels earthy and neutral too.

Want more autumnal tablescaping tips? We interviewed Emma here.