Love white flowers, but craving something with more depth? These nearly-neutral blooms bring a little more punch to your palette and are a nice complement in any neutral-toned garden. Brown flowers really shine in the fall, when you’re leaning into moodier colours—so be sure to add some of these into your plans!
Want more neutral blooms? Start with my favourite white flowers here!
Disclaimer #1: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read more about it in my privacy policy. Thanks for supporting Shifting Roots!
Disclaimer #2: I haven’t grown every variety on this list, and for some, I’ve included photos of fall arrangements rather than the flower on its own. Not every arrangement features brown flowers, but in context, the overall tone reads as brown or earthy, which is what we’re going for!
The Best Brown Flowers for Your Flower Garden
Cappuccino Rudbeckia
I’ve struggled growing these flowers in Zone 3, but this variety is long-lasting and beautiful, so it’s worth trying! Cappuccino rudbeckia are much browner in real life, but they can skew a bit orange or red in photographs.
Celway Terracotta Celosia
Though I haven’t grown any of the brown varieties, Celway Terracotta is one of the best options for a fairly true brown. In my cold climate, celosia doesn’t have the best stem length, so I find the blooms are best for boutonnieres and dried arrangements.
Chocolate Cherry Sunflower
Sunflowers are a classic in the cutting garden, and the deep brown of the Chocolate Cherry blooms is a nice alternative to the usual shades of yellow.
Chocolate Cosmos
Someday, I will grow these beautiful, sweet-smelling flowers, and when I do, I will take lots of pictures!
Creme de Cognac Dahlia
These might be in my selection this year, but I failed to mark my tubers, so I can’t be sure until they actually blossom. Once they do, I’ll update this post with photos!
Dara
Dara is a cool-loving flower suitable for early planting. Their flowers range in colour from shades of purple to brown to cream, and their delightful, lace-like texture is a lovely addition to bouquets.
Dried False Spirea
Drying false spirea is a classic trick for introducing brown tones into bouquets at any time of the year. Simply cut the stems once the plant has gone brown and save them for later use!
Dried Sweet Annie
I love to use dried Sweet Annie in wreaths and pumpkin arrangements and am impressed by how well it maintains its form! Sweet Annie can self-seed prolifically, though, which may lead to it spreading aggressively in some gardens.
Hot Biscuits Amaranth
Amaranth is lovely in both fresh and dried bouquets. This uniquely textured plant can survive in varied conditions and is an easy-to-grow choice for beginner flower growers!
Menzies’ Burnet
Burnet isn’t exactly brown, but its deep burgundy tones and fuzzy texture bring an earthy, moody feel—especially in fall. It’s a lovely accent that plays well with neutral blooms and dried elements.
Red Plume Orach
Orach isn’t picky about soil conditions and self-seeds reliably once planted. Its deep burgundy shade reads brown when paired with other flowers, and it has wonderfully tall stems!
Rosanne Brown Lisianthus
Rosanne Brown lisianthus is one of the best options in Zone 3 if you’re aiming for Pantone’s Colour of the Year, Mocha Mousse. In cold climates, lisianthus typically blooms in late summer to early fall, which makes it a great choice for fall weddings and arrangements!
Related: Grow a Garden Full of Pantone’s 2025 Colour of the Year!
Sahara Rudbeckia
Sahara rudbeckia blooms in several shades, with some leaning a bit more beige-brown and others leaning a bit more rusty orange. They make a lovely complement in neutral cutting gardens and are an excellent choice for cold-climate growers!
Are there any brown flowers I missed? Let me know in the comments!
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