DIY Fall Seasonal

Pumpkin Decorating with Flowers

Along with falling leaves and cooler temperatures, pumpkins and seasonal flowers are some of the first signs of fall. Whether you’re inviting others up to your porch or filling the table with reminders of the slower seasons ahead, decorations help remind you that shorter and slower days are on their way.

If you’re looking to make those pumpkins even better, add some flowers! With a wide variety of gourds and blooms available, you’ll be able to make some pairings that rival pumpkin and spice. We’re talking big orange pumpkins and maroon spider mums or little white pumpkins paired with flame-colored roses. If you need some inspiration, we’re here with ideas for porches, tabletops, and everywhere else.

History of Pumpkins in the Fall

Leaf it to nature to create the perfect fall decor…yes we’re talking about pumpkins. Farmers harvest these seasonal decorations in late summer or early fall, which means they arrive just in time to accompany cozy days filled with sweaters and cider.

Since pumpkins are a storage crop, they can last for months…and that means you have to put them somewhere. As people waited for pumpkin pies and casseroles, they kept their squashes throughout their homes and barns. Before long, the pumpkin became the must-have seasonal decoration we know and love.

What’s Up With the Pumpkin Flower?

Before we dive into decorating ideas, let’s talk about the pumpkin flower itself. Since pumpkins are a type of squash, it’s no surprise their blooms resemble zucchini blossoms. Think big, yellow, star-shaped flowers.

While these flowers are pretty, they’re best left on the vine. Mature pumpkins make much better decorations than their delicate flowers.

A fun fact about pumpkin plants is that they’re monoecious. This means that each plant produces male and female flowers. So if you want pumpkins, you only need to grow one plant in your garden.

How to Decorate Pumpkins with Flowers

Sure, you can put pumpkins and flowers next to each other and call it a day. But these ideas show how you can make these two decorations snuggle up with each other.

A Pumpkin Planter

If you’ve found yourself with pumpkins and the ever-popular chrysanthemum, you’re in luck. While you could display these two fall stars side-by-side, why not combine them?

Go ahead and hollow out a large pumpkin, and you’ll find yourself with the perfect fall planter. Just slip your mum’s pot inside the pumpkin and you’ve got a festive centerpiece or porch decoration.

Floral Foam and Flowers

If you’re working with a mixed flowers bouquet, you can still incorporate pumpkins. For a full look that’s frighteningly beautiful at every angle, turn to one of the florists’ favorite tools: floral foam.

Cut off the top of your pumpkin and scoop out the seeds and goo. Place a piece of floral foam on the bottom part of the pumpkin and then return the top.

Now it’s time to get to work arranging your flowers! Stick the stems into the foam until you have an arrangement you like.

Paint with Flowers

For a fun take on painted pumpkins, turn to flowers. Rather than using a paintbrush, you’ll use a flower to apply color!

One option is to coat sturdy flowers like mums and asters with a layer of paint. Gently press the flowers onto the pumpkin to end up with a bloom-shaped print.

Another option is to use flowers and greens to brush paint onto the pumpkin. Who said abstract art doesn’t have a place at the autumn table?

Front Porch Decor with Pumpkins and Flowers

Whether you aim to welcome yourself home or help spark some seasonal joy in your neighborhood, the porch is a great place to start. While classic decorations like corn stalks and jack o’lanterns have their place, don’t be afraid to try something new.

Colorful Pumpkins and Greens

While orange pumpkins are the obvious choice, why settle for ordinary? With hundreds of different types of pumpkins and gourds to choose from, you can create a front porch that shows the diversity of these two fall favs.

Since your flowers will be out on your porch for a while, opt for potted plants or hardy elements. And make sure to consider your weather when you choose! There’s nothing worse than crafting a beautiful, fall display only to have it zapped by cold temperatures that night.

Perhaps the most popular fall flower is the chrysanthemum. With a wide range of colors and an easy to care for habit, it’s easy to see why. If you’d like to mix things up from the traditional mums, check out quill mums or pompon mums.

If you’d like to step away from chrysanthemums — and flowers in general — it’s easy to do so. Hypericum berries add a bright touch and eucalyptus provides a soothing shade.

When it comes to pumpkins, try to incorporate different colors, sizes, and textures. Some types to look out for include the pale blue Jarrahdale (it’s great for roasting) and the bumpy Warty Goblin.

A Wreath to Impress

Who says you have to wait until winter to add a wreath to your door? The first day of fall is the perfect time to add one of these welcoming decorations to your home.

Olive and magnolia leaves blend to create a wreath filled with subtle fall colors. Just add some pumpkins at the base of your door, and you’re all set.

Another option is to make your wreath using a grapevine base and fresh or dried flowers.

A Harvest Planter

If you want to give an ode to the fall harvest and the farmers who make it happen, flowers and pumpkins are perfect. First, find a large planter — wicker baskets and terra cotta pots are great choices.

Next, add fall-blooming flowers like mums, pansies, and flowering kale. All of these plants are cold-hardy, so they can withstand falling temperatures. If you live in a warmer climate, don’t be afraid to mix in other less-hardy blooms.

Finally, place a few large pumpkins and other winter squash at the planter’s base. Blue Hubbard and kabocha happen to be both gorgeous and delicious. If you’d like, you can even add in some decorative corn.

Flower and Pumpkin Centerpieces

No matter if you’re enjoying morning coffee by yourself or gathering around the table with friends and family, a centerpiece makes every moment a bit more special. To get a friend started on their own centerpiece, send fall flowers their way.

A Crowd of Little Pumpkin Vases

Why have one pumpkin when you can have two (or five)? By opting for smaller pumpkins, you can fit more onto your table.

To make these lil pumpkins extra special, top them with some gorgeous fall flowers. Cut off the tops and insert a small dish to hold some water. Next, add fall favorites like golden sunflowers or white asters.

Since these pumpkins are on the tiny side, you’ll need to trim the flowers’ stems so they fit just right. Don’t forget to cut at a 45º angle so the blooms can quench their thirst.

Mix and Match Vases

While a bouquet is an obvious vase filler, pumpkins can do the trick as well. For this centerpiece, you’ll need a few vases. Wide clear vases work well for pumpkins.

Fill a few of these vases with little pumpkins or colorful gourds, and place flowers in the remainder. Rather than place a whole bouquet in one vase, try splitting it up into a few smaller ones.

Dried Flowers

While you can’t go wrong with fresh flowers, sometimes you want to mix it up. If that’s the case, turn to dried flowers.

One great thing about dried flowers is that they don’t require any water. When you remove the need for a vase, you open up your options.

Rather than placing fresh flowers on top of a pumpkin, try circling dried blooms around the base. This dried flower wreath will put a spotlight on the pumpkin while adding even more beauty.

Cornucopias and Flowers

If there’s one fall decoration we haven’t covered yet, it’s the cornucopia. This horn-shaped decoration symbolizes the bounty of the harvest and reminds us to appreciate what we have.

The great thing about cornucopias is that you can treat them like a vase and fill them with flowers, berries, pumpkins, and more.

A Tabletop Fire

While a real fire might be a bit dangerous, you can evoke the warm oranges and ambers that come with a glowing flame. Choose deep red lilies or carnations and add in pops of bright sunflowers or asters. Tuck in some mini orange pumpkins and you’ll feel the warmth of the season.

Subdued Shades

It’s no secret that warm colors dominate fall. But that doesn’t mean you can’t mix it up with subtle cool colors!

Grab some eucalyptus to act as the base for your cornucopia. Once that’s in place, layer in some little white pumpkins. Next, add in blue, green, and white flowers. Work in a few succulents, and you’re good to go.

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