Mums arrive in late summer and carry color straight through the shortening days—these compact 4-inch plants pack enough flower to anchor a fall bed or brighten a porch. Pick your shade and plant them out before the ground gets hard, or keep one potted indoors where it'll flower for weeks.

Water when the soil dries out and give them sun. They're meant for right now, so don't expect them to return next year—treat them as the seasonal players they are.