Natural-looking permanent plants in the flower box offer floral moments of happiness at any time of the year. With the right combination of bulb flowers, perennials, grasses and herbs, you can put your ambitious plan into action. These tips for a sunny and a shady balcony show you how to do it.
How can I plant a balcony box all year round?
To plant a balcony box all year round, combine bulb flowers, perennials, grasses and herbs. Snowdrops, crocuses, grape hyacinths, sage, oregano, lavender, Spanish daisies, cranesbills and perennial flax are suitable for sunny balconies. Shady balconies benefit from scented plants such as pennywort, golden droplets, scented violets, larkspur, daylily, forest phlox, Japanese sedge, striped fern and dwarf peacock fern.
Planting suggestion for the south-facing balcony – ideas for permanent planting
With a balanced combination of seasonal flowering plants and evergreen perennials, your flower box on the sunny balcony has something to offer from spring to winter. The following planting suggestion refers to year-round planting in a 100 cm long balcony box:
- Flower bulbs: snowdrops (Galanthus), crocus (Crocus) and grape hyacinths (Muscari)
- Herbs: sage (Salvia), oregano (Origanum), lavender (Lavendula) or creeping mountain savory (Satureja montana)
- Perennials: Spanish daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus), cranesbill (Geranium) and perennial flax (Linum perenne)
- Grasses: bow love grass (Eragrostis trichodes), crested sedge (Carex comans) or brocade sedge (Carex dolichostachya)
Arrange the plants so that upright perennials alternate with low, cushion-shaped plants. In this way you create an exciting, varied appearance.
Planting suggestion for a shady balcony – scented pleasure instead of flowers
For a flower box on the north side, the focus is on perennials that replace missing flowers with a seductive scent and pretty leaves. The following plants are suitable for this variant of permanent planting:
- Fragrant cushion perennials: pennywort (Lysimachia nummularia), gold droplets (Chiastophyllum oppositifolium)
- Perennials: Fragrant Violet (Viola odorata), Larkspur (Corydalis elata), Daylily (Hemerocallis minor), Forest Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
- Grasses and ferns: Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii), striped fern (Asplenium trichomanes), dwarf peacock fern (Adiantum pedatum)
- Decorative foliage plants: Blue mini hosta (Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'), small gold hosta (Hosta 'Goldene Woge')
There is nothing wrong with planting several balcony boxes in the same pattern. Rhythm and repetition are a central criterion for creative permanent planting if a harmonious overall impression is to be created. If you position cushion-forming perennials on the visible side, they will develop into elegant, hanging carpets.
Tip
Permanent planting in a flower box only meets the high expectations if the growing substrate is structurally stable. Therefore, ignore cheap earth from the discounter. If the plants can extend their roots in high-quality potting soil, they will remain vital and he althy all year round. Therefore, fill balcony boxes with a peat-free substrate enriched with Perlite breathing flakes (€5.00 on Amazon) or lava granules.
