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For some, the first signs of fall are crunchy leaves or a dip in temperature. And let’s not forget another clear signal: a sea of sunset-hued mums appearing outside your local supermarket. Julia Marcum of Chris Loves Julia, however, is making a case for a different flower for your front door pots: pansies—and the faux kind, at that.
In a recent Instagram post, the interior design pro revealed her “cheat code for the most dramatic mums:” artificial pansy stems in an autumnal wine red hue reminiscent of the other flower (a pack of 16 goes for a reasonable $25 on Amazon). For the foundation, Marcum used things she already owned: faux boxwood topiary balls set inside footed planters. Starting at the bottom edge of each boxwood and working her way up, she simply separated and inserted the stems one by one. It took three boxes per pot to achieve the looser, fuller look Marcum was after.
An added bonus? The lush displays will never wilt despite zero maintenance. Not just because they’re faux, but because the stems are designed specifically for the outdoors (not all fake greenery is!). Look for ones made of water-resistant silk-plastic blend with a UV-resistant coating to protect the blooms from fading in the sun.
But maybe your heart is set on actual mums, or you’re craving a greenery-forward arrangement. If that’s the case, read on to see these other outdoor-friendly options we uncovered.