As a floral designer, I couldn’t help but combine my love of flowers with fall pumpkins this season. My dining room table (and let’s be honest, most flat surfaces in our home) are covered in everything from pressed petals to faux stems. Once I started creating these pieces, I just couldn’t stop – there are so many beautiful ways to merge these two fall favorites.
The best part? You don’t need to be a professional florist or artist to pull these off. I’ll walk you through each method, sharing what I learned works best – and what definitely doesn’t. Whether you want a quick afternoon project or something more involved, there’s an option here that’ll work for you.
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Why Combine Pumpkins with Flowers?
Pumpkins and flowers might seem like an unusual combo at first, but trust me – they’re perfect together. As someone who spent years designing florals, I love how pumpkins can be both a vessel and a canvas for flowers. They work for everything from a simple coffee table decoration to a full Thanksgiving centerpiece.
I’ve played around with seven different ways to combine these favorites: using fresh flowers, faux flowers, pressed flowers, dried flowers, painted flowers, decoupaged flowers, and even adding embroidered vines. Some are quick afternoon projects, while others might take a bit more time – but they all add that perfect touch of fall charm with a floral twist.
Let me show you what I’ve created and maybe inspire your next fall project.
A quick note about pumpkins: While I show both real and faux pumpkins in these projects, they’re usually interchangeable. Real pumpkins are perfect for fresh flowers and short-term displays, while craft pumpkins are great if you want your creation to last season after season. I’ll mention when one works better than the other in each project.
1. Fresh Flowers in a Pumpkin
About the Design I created this fall-inspired floral arrangement in a large yellow pumpkin (acting as a pumpkin vase), giving it a rustic basket feel with a grapevine wreath around the top. It’s become one of my favorite ways to blend the season’s best – mixing garden flowers and foraged branches with classic fall blooms.
What I Used
- Large pumpkin (I used yellow)
- Fresh flowers: use sturdy flowers like green spider mums, yellow sunflowers, rust-colored lilies
- Yellow filler flowers
- Branches and berries from my yard
- A few faux rust leaves and berries
- Grapevine wreath
- Block of floral foam cut to fit in a water-tight container
- Sharp knife
Tips for Success
- Cut a generous opening at the top – you’ll want space to work
- Place your container with floral foam inside first, then arrange your flowers
- Mix beautiful flowers and faux elements for the most natural fall look
- Adding foraged branches and leaves from your yard gives it that perfect seasonal touch
- The grapevine wreath is optional but adds a lovely rustic finish for this fall flower arrangement
This makes a stunning centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table, or anywhere you want to make a statement with fall flowers. Best part? You can recreate this look with whatever seasonal bunch of flowers that catch your eye at the grocery store or garden.
Another Fresh Flower Idea Love herbs? Check out my DIY Pumpkin Floral Arrangements with Garden Herbs – it’s the perfect fragrant place setting favor for your Thanksgiving table.
2. Faux Flowers on a Pumpkin
About the Design I created this showstopper using a large peach-toned heirloom pumpkin crowned with a cluster of fall faux florals. The flattened shape of the pumpkin makes it perfect for a layered design that looks beautiful from every angle.
What I Used
- Peach heirloom pumpkin (real or faux works)
- A collection of faux stems: I used peach mini mums, white small leaf branches,rust-colored long leaf stems, dried fern leaves and rust berries
- Hot glue gun
Tips for Success
- Keep flowers and stems to the top only – this creates that “crown” effect
- Tack some of the stems to the sides of the pumpkin with glue to create a cascading look
- Cluster your focal flowers (like the mums) in the center
- Layer outward with leaves and smaller elements
- Using an heirloom pumpkin gives you that perfect vintage-inspired look
Quick Bonus Idea Want something smaller? Try decorating a mini pumpkin with small flowers for charming place settings at your fall table. Just keep the design low so guests can see each other across the table.
3. Pressed Flowers on a Pumpkin
About the Design These sweet little candle holders started as plain white mini pumpkins but became something special with pressed flowers and taper candles. I love how the pressed petals look almost painted on, creating the perfect romantic fall accent.
What I Used
- White mini pumpkins
- Pressed flowers
- Mod Podge
- Cream taper candles
- Small brush for applying Mod Podge
Tips for Success
- Arrange your flowers before gluing to get the design just right
- Apply Mod Podge carefully – a little goes a long way
- Press out any air bubbles gently as you work
- Add a final seal coat for protection
Get the complete step-by-step tutorial here on my Pressed Flower Pumpkins post.
More Design Ideas I also created a few variations: one white pumpkin adorned with delicate pressed ferns, and a soft orange heirloom pumpkin featuring flowers cascading down one side. The possibilities are endless!
4. Dried Flowers on a Pumpkin
About the Design This elegant piece combines dried hydrangeas from my garden with a white pumpkin candle holder. By removing the stem and adding a glass cylinder, it transforms into a sophisticated fall pumpkin arrangement that works from September right through Thanksgiving.
What I Used
- White faux pumpkin
- Dried hydrangeas in purple and green tones
- Glass cylinder vase
- Pillar candle
- Faux greenery
- Grosgrain ribbon
- Hot glue gun
Tips for Success
- Dried hydrangeas are surprisingly sturdy once attached
- The faux pumpkin means you can use this year after year
- Position your cylinder vase on the top of the pumpkin first, then work outward with your design
- A mix of dried and faux elements gives you the best of both worlds
- Try making a mini dried flower pumpkin – they make perfect centerpieces for side tables or as part of a larger fall display.
Get the complete tutorial and supply list in my DIY Hydrangea Centerpiece For Fall post.
5. Painted Floral Pumpkins
About the Design This green pumpkin became my canvas for simple white flowers and vines, with touches of gold for extra sparkle. While there are countless ways to paint flowers on pumpkins, I love how this design proves you don’t need to be an artist to create something beautiful.
What I Used
- Green pumpkin (real or faux works)
- White acrylic paint
- Gold paint accents
- Paint brushes
Tips for Success
- Start with simple flowers – think basic petals and leaves
- White paint shows up beautifully on darker pumpkins
- Add metallic touches last for a bit of shine
- Keep your design loose and natural looking
It’s amazing how a few simple brushstrokes can transform a plain pumpkin into something special. This was actually part of a pumpkin painting party I hosted – such a fun fall activity with friends!
Get my party hosting tips in my Hosting a Festive Pumpkin Painting Party post!
6. Decoupage Flowers on a Pumpkin
About the Designs I created three different styles to show you just how versatile decoupage can be. My first design keeps it simple with a large wreath pattern as the focal point on a white larger pumpkin. For a bolder look, I created an all-over pattern using carefully cut pieces from a black floral napkin with birds. The third pushes the envelope with full napkins creating a complete floral covering – perfect for when you want something truly dramatic.
What I Used
- White pumpkins (both real and faux work great)
- Paper napkins with floral designs
- Mod Podge
- Brushes
- Scissors
Tips for Success
- Each design requires slightly different techniques
- For the wreath design, less is more
- When using napkins, separate the layers – you only want the top printed layer
- Take your time positioning the design before you start gluing
- Work in small sections to avoid wrinkles
These decoupaged pumpkins look fancy, but they’re surprisingly easy to create. The hardest part might be choosing which napkin design to use!
Get the complete tutorial and supply list for all three designs in my Decoupage Pumpkin post.
7. Vines on a Pumpkin
About the Design While not technically flowers, these vine-wrapped pumpkins were too beautiful not to include! This DIY pumpkin was inspired by Grandin Road’s high-end designs, I created two versions: a statement piece using green embroidery strips on a large white pumpkin, and a simpler design with vine ribbon on a small white pumpkin.
What I Used Large Design:
- Large white faux pumpkin
- Green embroidery strips
- Hot glue gun
Small Design:
- Small white faux pumpkin
- Decorative vine ribbon
- Hot glue gun
Tips for Success
- Plan your vine pattern before gluing
- Work in sections for the most precise placement
- The faux pumpkins give you a perfect surface for gluing
- Keep your design balanced but be sure to cover the entire pumpkin
- Use these as a base for other elements or let them shine on their own
You can find a list of supplies and step by step instructions in my popular Grandin Road Inspired DIY Leaf Vine Pumpkins post.
For more DIY Pumpkin ideas visit:
From simple centerpieces to dramatic displays, combining pumpkins with flowers is one of my favorite ways to create unique fall decor. Whether you’re picking up a real pumpkin from Trader Joe’s or your local pumpkin patch, there are so many creative ways to transform it into something special.
Each design can be adapted to work with different flowers, colors, and pumpkin sizes – making them perfect for everything from a small coffee table accent to a stunning Thanksgiving centerpiece for the fall season. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your own combinations!
I’d love to hear how you’ve decorated your own pumpkin or pumpkins with flowers. Have you tried any of these ideas or do you have other creative ways to combine these fall favorites? Drop me a comment below!
Happy designing friends!
