Does your balcony look dull and colorless in the cold season? These 13 plants conjure up color on your balcony even in winter.
If the blaze of color of the summer flowers is history, the balcony does not have to appear gray and dreary. A beautifully planted balcony box becomes a very special ornament in winter. Bring color into play with hardy balcony plants or opt for plants that can remain outdoors all year round.
Which plants can stay in the window box all year round?
With these plants you save yourself the investment in a seasonally changing planting. The following balcony plants defy icy temperatures and offer a multifaceted picture throughout the year with flowers, fruits and leaf colors.
Double flowering false chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile 'Plenum')
The small, filled inflorescences make the false chamomile an eye-catcher. The plants form dense carpets and are preferably cultivated as ground cover. But the perennial bloomer also cuts a fine figure in balcony boxes and planters. The double flowering false chamomile will surprise you with its pleasant fragrance and can withstand temperatures down to -35 degrees.
Blueberry (Gaultheria)
In winter, the eye craves colour. The red berries appear in autumn and accompany us into the depths of winter. In combination with snow heather and fir branches, you can create an attractive Christmas balcony decoration. In summer, the white-pink flowers in contrast with the lush green leaves are a source of admiration. In winter, the leaves often turn bronze.
Hardy Geraniums (Geranium)
Geraniums belong in the house in winter? Yes and no, because both pelargoniums and cranesbills are popularly called geraniums. The pelargoniums, which bloom luxuriantly in summer, do not tolerate frost, but can be overwintered indoors without any problems. Cranesbills, on the other hand, are unaffected by the frost. In the bed, cranesbills impress with their pink to purple flowers. If you opt for hardy geraniums with weak growth, the plants are suitable as perennialsBalcony planting.
Silverbell (Heuchera micrantha)
The pretty bell-shaped flowers are not the only adornment of the garden silverbell. The strong leaves also surprise with an appealing color ranging from green to wine-red. The evergreen plant is considered fully hardy.
Cotoneaster
The cotoneaster is a robust and hardy plant that can be cultivated without any problems. The white or red flowers and the red berries offer a varied picture. Cotoneasters need a loose and nutrient-rich soil. The plants in the balcony box prefer to be too dry than too wet. The plants do not tolerate waterlogging. Drainage in the bottom of the planter is therefore a good idea.
Warning: The red fruits contain hydrocyanic acid. Keep the berries away from children and pets. Birds, on the other hand, use the fruits of the cotoneaster as a food source in winter.
Heather (Erica carnea)
Winter planting in balcony boxes would be unthinkable without snow heather. Depending on the variety and the weather, the snow heath can be in bloom between November and April. The flower colors vary between white, pink and violet. Many plant lovers use snow heather exclusively for winter planting of the balcony box. However, the pretty plant can remain in the box all year round and has green leaves in summer that are reminiscent of fine needles. In winter, the snow heath can withstand temperatures down to - 25 degrees.
Tip: On frost-free days, the snow heather needs watering so that it does not dry out and can be used as a balcony plant all year round.
hardy herbs
The way to the herb garden doesn't have to be far. Some herbs are robust enough to survive the winter in the window box. You can also harvest hardy herbs such as parsley, peppermint, sage or thyme during the cold season. Some herbs cannot be harvested in winter because the plants retreat into the ground and only sprout again in spring. These include tormentil or woodruff.
Which plants are only conditionally hardy?
The following plants are suitable for winter planting in the balcony box, but often cannot do without appropriate winter protection in the event of permafrost. If you cover the bottom of the planter with leaves or fir branches, the plants can beprotect and at the same time create an attractive seasonal balcony planting.
Scarlet fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica)
Fuchsias bloom all summer but should be moved indoors before the first frost. An exception is the scarlet fuchsia. The pretty plant not only adorns itself with two-tone flowers, but can also survive in the window box on cold days. The robust fuchsia tolerates temperatures in the single-digit minus range. In severe frosts, protection from straw, leaves or twigs is necessary.
Tip: The scarlet fuchsia represents the wild form of the fuchsia.
Evergreen candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)
The foliage of the evergreen candytuft is an eye-catcher all year round. In spring, the white flowers evoke associations with snow. Therefore, the plant is often referred to as a snow cushion. The winter hardiness of the pretty balcony flower is considered good. The plant should be able to cope with temperatures in the single-digit minus range without additional protection.
Ornamental cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
Although cabbage is more likely to be found in the vegetable garden, ornamental cabbage (Brassica oleracea) is becoming increasingly popular in winter window boxes. The two-tone leaves are a pretty eye-catcher in every balcony box. The green, white or purple leaves contrast vividly with evergreen plants. The winter vegetable defies temperatures in the single-digit minus range.
Tip: Ornamental cabbage is edible and a close relative of kale.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender brings back memories of summer. The real lavender can accompany you as a balcony plant throughout the year. A rather shady location is important so that the plant does not dry out. Even extreme winds are not tolerated. Additional winter protection from straw, leaves or fir branches is necessary when the thermometer falls below the -15 degree mark. On frost-free days, the lavender is lightly watered. Beware of waterlogging!
Pansies (Viola wittrockiana)
Pansies bloom almost tirelessly and can also please the eye of their beholders in winter. On the balcony, temperatures down to -20 degrees are tolerated without additional protection. So that the planter does not freeze, it should be placed on a base made of wood or styrofoam.
Phlox (Phlox subulata)
The cushion phlox is actually at home in the rock garden or becomesWall greening used. As a balcony plant, the cushion phlox can convince with a lush sea of flowers. The easy-care plants bloom in white, pink or violet. As a balcony plant, the cushion phlox is fully hardy down to temperatures of -20 degrees.