When you use window boxes to showcase winter-friendly plants, you can create a compact space that adds color and interest to your garden even when the rest of it is dormant. Winter window boxes require certain plants because they can withstand colder temperatures, frost, and shorter days.
Winter plants offer a variety of textures, colors, and forms that add depth and interest to the winter landscape. Adding winter plants to window boxes also improves the visual appeal of the home by adding elegance and warmth to the colder months.
Winter Pansies
The colorful blooms and hardiness of winter pansies make them a popular choice for gardening in cold climates. These are small enough to fit perfectly in window boxes, growing to a height of 6 to 9 inches. Full sun to partial shade with four to six hours of sunlight per day is ideal for winter pansies.
In winter, overwatering is advised, but proper drainage is crucial to avoid root rot. In order to promote continuous flowering, regular deadheading is also necessary. To maintain plant tidiness and encourage new buds, pinch off faded flowers just above the subsequent set of leaves.
Deadheading directs the plant’s energy toward producing more flowers instead of seeds, which improves the plant’s appearance. Winter pansies are a great option for enlivening window boxes in the winter because they offer vibrant color and durability.
Cyclamen
Cyclamen are a popular choice for winter window boxes because of their eye-catching foliage and vibrant blooms. They come in a variety of colors, including pink, red, white, and purple, and their heart-shaped leaves have intricate patterns of silver or white.
For best health and longevity, they need bright, indirect light, filtered sunlight, morning sun with afternoon shade, and windows facing north or east. Watering them properly is essential, as it prevents waterlogging and lets the top inch of soil dry out slightly between watering. Cyclamen prefer cold temperatures, ranging from 50°F to 65°F.
They should be kept in a cool, well-ventilated area where they won’t be exposed to heat sources.
It is imperative to fertilize them every two to four weeks using a water-soluble, balanced fertilizer that has been diluted to half-strength. Pruning and deadheading are also crucial to maintaining the plant’s fresh appearance and promoting new blooms.
By adhering to these maintenance guidelines, you can take advantage of the striking hues and distinctive foliage of cyclamen all winter long, guaranteeing that your window boxes stay lively and appealing even during the chilly months.
Kale and Cabbage
Cabbages and ornamental kale are two common plants for winter gardens. Known for its colorful and ruffled leaves, ornamental kale is bred primarily for decorative purposes and keeps its vivid hues well into the winter.
Contrarily, the cabbage’s rounded shape produces eye-catching rosettes of vibrant foliage. These plants are prized for their distinctive textures and vivid hues, which become more intense in the winter. They can withstand cold, grow well in frost, and become more beautiful as the temperature drops.
They keep their beauty all winter long, adding enduring interest to outdoor areas. They are also low maintenance, growing in colder climates with little watering and care, which makes them a great option for winter gardens where maintenance may be more difficult.
Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Heuchera is a well-liked plant variety distinguished by its vividly colored foliage. When contrasted with lighter plants or snow, its rich burgundy leaves give window boxes a striking effect. While the caramel leaves offer a gentle, earthy tone, the lime marmalade leaves contrast with darker tones.
The silver scroll leaves have a distinct, frosted look along with dark veining. Heuchera’s vivid colors are retained throughout the winter, giving it a visually captivating effect. Its soft texture is added to window boxes by its rounded, scalloped leaves.
Because it is an evergreen, its leaves remain present throughout the winter, adding to its appeal even in the winter. It is a great option for winter window boxes because it needs little upkeep and can withstand a variety of soil conditions and shade.
Winterberry Holly
Two popular winter plants are Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and American Holly (Ilex opaca). American Holly is a traditional choice for displays because of its vivid red berries and dark green leaves. A deciduous variety called winterberry drops its leaves in the winter and leaves behind vivid red berries.
These berries are a popular choice for window boxes because they add color and draw birds. Winterberry holly is a main feature of seasonal décor because it personifies the classic winter aesthetic.
Its rounded berries and glossy leaves create a lovely textural contrast that amplifies the window boxes’ visual appeal. For a festive touch, combine winterberry holly with other winter plants or use it as a centerpiece.
Evergreen Conifers
Because of their naturally structured shapes, needle-like or scale-like foliage, and year-round greenery, evergreen conifers are a popular choice for window boxes.
Pines such as Thuja occidental is ‘Tiny Tim’ and Pinus mugo give soft, feathery textures and dense, bushy appearances, while dwarf varieties like Picea glauca ‘Conical’, Pinus mugo, and Thuja occidental is ‘Tiny Tim’ add a classic, evergreen touch.
Thuja occidental is ‘Tiny Tim’ and other dwarf cedars have fine, scale-like leaves and a rich green color. Once established, these conifers require little maintenance, which makes them perfect for winter window boxes because they offer a strong visual foundation.
Snowdrops
Snowdrops are a popular and adaptable plant variety that comes in two main varieties: Galanthus nivalis, which is the most common and is known for its delicate white flowers with green markings.
It blooms in late winter to early spring, often pushing through snow, and Galanthus elwesii, also known as the “giant snowdrop,” has larger flowers and broader leaves and is highly prized for its ability to withstand cold and snowy conditions. Snowdrops are early bloomers that bring hope and renewal to gardens.
They are elegant, delicate, and cold-hardy, which makes them a dependable choice for enlivening window boxes during the cold months. Once planted, snowdrops require little maintenance and can grow in both sun and partial shade.
They will naturally grow into larger clumps and spread over time, adding to the overall effect of your winter garden.
Creeping Jenny
A low-growing, mat-forming plant that can be added to any garden is the creeping Jenny. Its trailing stems fill in spaces between other plants to form a dense, carpet-like layer that gives your arrangement more body and texture. The yellow-green foliage of the golden variety is especially prized because it keeps its color throughout the winter.
When contrasted with darker or more subdued winter plants, this vivid hue can liven up window boxes. You can use creeping Jenny as a filler plant to balance out taller or more structural plants, or you can plant it at the edges. It is easy to incorporate into various planting schemes because it can grow in both partial shade and sun.
Because of her hardiness and resilience, Creeping Jenny can withstand a variety of circumstances, including low temperatures. In milder climates, it retains its evergreen status, guaranteeing year-round appeal.
In the spring, it quickly recovers, even in colder climates. Once established, Creeping Jenny is a low-maintenance option for winter window boxes because it thrives in both sun and shade, is drought-tolerant, and requires very little care.
Dusty Miller
Popular in winter, Dusty Miller comes in several varieties, such as Senecio cineraria, Silver Lace, and New Look. These varieties are good for winter window boxes because of their distinctive foliage and compact growth habits. The plant’s silvery-gray foliage gives it contrast and texture. It is also cold-hardy and evergreen in many areas.
Dusty Miller works well in window boxes in a variety of ways. It can be used as a focal point in monochromatic arrangements or as a backdrop for colorful plants. It is a low-maintenance option for winter window boxes due to its low maintenance needs, which include little watering and thriving in well-drained soil.
The plant is a useful companion for a variety of plants because of its complex leaf shapes and silvery-gray color. For winter window boxes, Dusty Miller is generally a low-maintenance option.
Hellebores
Winter window boxes are brought to life and color by the blooming plants known as hellebores, which appear in late winter or early spring. They are prized for their multicolored early spring blooms as well as their evergreen foliage, which has leathery, deep green leaves and adds year-round interest.
One of the first varieties of hellebores to flower is the Christmas rose, which blooms around Christmastime. The plant’s dark green foliage contrasts beautifully with the usually white flowers, which may become pink as they mature.
Early bloomers, hellebores mark the end of winter and the start of spring by frequently emerging while there is still snow on the ground. Their lovely evergreen foliage gives window boxes structure and texture all year long.
It is also lush and colorful. For several weeks, the enduring flowers remain affixed to the plant, guaranteeing vibrant and captivating window boxes well into the early spring.
Because they like shade, hellebores are a great option for window boxes that might not get direct sunlight. Once established, they require very little maintenance and can withstand extremely harsh winter conditions.
Because they are resistant to drought and most pests, they are a simple plant to grow and can provide winter window boxes with long-lasting beauty.
Tips for Winter Window Boxes
Use well-draining soil (perlite or vermiculite) and improve drainage at the bottom with gravel or broken pottery to ensure healthy winter window boxes.
Watering schedules should be modified so that less water is applied during the winter and less is applied when it is snowing or very cold outside. To stop root rot, don’t overwater.
Plants can be protected from strong winds, freezing temperatures, and ice with the use of protective coverings like frost cloths, burlap, or plastic sheeting. Make sure there is airflow between the coverings to avoid moisture accumulation, mold, and decay.
For added protection, place window boxes in a slightly sheltered area. These pointers will help your winter window boxes stay colorful and healthy while enhancing the exterior of your house with beauty and intrigue.