Stunning Autumn Flowers for Every Occasion

Sunflowers make a statement wherever they appear. Although they’re closely linked with sunshine and hazy summer days, many varieties flower from July to September, earning them a place among our favourite autumn flowers.

Golden yellow may be the classic choice, but sunflowers also come in shades of orange, red and brown. They look beautiful surrounded by warm, earthy tones and rounded flowers like dahlias or chrysanthemums, alongside berries and textured foliage. The result is an autumn flower arrangement that feels full, seasonal and inviting.

Sunflowers are a thoughtful choice for birthdays, congratulations, or simply to let someone know they’re on your mind.

Carthamus, also known as safflower, has a wonderfully spiky flower head that looks a little like a thistle. Its warm yellow and orange shades feel made for autumn flower arrangements, especially when paired with fuller blooms and textured foliage.

The plant is best known for the oil produced from its seeds, but its petals have also been used as a natural dye and as a more affordable alternative to saffron in cooking. Carthamus flowers are usually at their best from midsummer into early autumn. In bouquets, their bold shape adds texture, colour and a slightly wild feel.

The sweet, and near-symmetrical dahlia adds drama to autumn floral arrangements, thanks to their neat layers of petals and impressive range of shapes, from neat pompons to large, ruffled blooms.

Although they’re often thought of as summer flowers, dahlias can keep blooming well into autumn, usually until the first hard frost. Rich reds feel bold and romantic, while dusky pinks create a softer, more graceful look.

The dahlia is the national flower of Mexico, but it can also be grown here in the UK. Pair them with trailing amaranthus, chrysanthemums and orange foliage to bring out their seasonal colours and create a bouquet that feels quintessentially autumnal.

Vibrant in colour and enticingly fluffy in appearance, celosia is a truly striking autumn flower; we don’t blame you for wanting to touch those soft, curly flower heads. Some varieties have rippled blooms that resemble coral or flames, while cockscomb celosia has an unusual, brain-like shape that feels made for Halloween.

Celosia flowers from late summer into early autumn, making it a popular choice for seasonal arrangements in August and September. Fiery orange, rich burgundy and deep red varieties look beautiful alongside dahlias, trailing amaranthus and dark, textured foliage.

Sweet, star-shaped asters are early autumn bloomers, showing off their gorgeous purple petals and bright yellow centres in the months of August and September.

Their name comes from the Greek word for “star”, and one myth says they grew from the tears of the goddess Astraea as they fell to earth. It’s a fitting story for flowers that look like tiny stars scattered across a bouquet.

Asters are especially lovely in autumn flower arrangements, where their dainty shape softens fuller blooms such as sunflowers and chrysanthemums. As the birth flower for September, asters make a thoughtful birthday gift for anyone celebrating around this time.

Chrysanthemums are a year-round staple, but autumn is when these flowers really come into their own with stunning shades of orange, burgundy and yellow to enjoy in your seasonal bouquets.

In UK gardens, chrysanthemums usually flower from September to November, bringing much-needed warmth and colour as many summer favourites begin to fade. Their wide variety of shapes, from neat pompons to loose, daisy-like blooms, makes them a wonderfully versatile choice.

Did you know? Chrysanthemums are a popular Mother’s Day flower in Australia. The celebration falls during their natural flowering season, and their nickname, “mums”, makes them an especially fitting choice. We reckon that’s a pretty good reason to borrow the idea when March rolls around here too!

This unusual flower (also known as the sugarbush) hails from South Africa and is considered to be from one of the oldest living families of flowers on the planet. It has a unique cone-like head with petals that envelop its centre. But it’s more than just a pretty face; it’s also incredibly resilient, and has even been known to survive wildfires.

Blooming in shades of red, orange, yellow and pink, proteas are perfectly suited to autumn bouquets, brightening up those grey days with ease. Their name is thought to come from the Greek god Proteus, who had the power to shapeshift, a fitting tribute to the remarkable range of shapes and sizes this flower comes in.

This connection to transformation makes the protea a meaningful flower for celebrating life’s biggest milestones, from birthdays, graduations and promotions to new homes, new babies, retirements or whatever the case may be.