With potted plants, privacy is guaranteed if planting in the ground is not possible at the location. Only when a plant is blessed with a height of at least 120 cm and opaque foliage does it count as a privacy plant. The following hand-picked selection introduces you to the most beautiful winter-hardy potted plants that will protect you from prying eyes on your balcony and terrace.
Which winter-hardy potted plants offer good privacy?
Winter-hardy potted plants that serve as privacy screens are evergreen shrubs such as firethorn, red medlar and barberry, conifers such as arborvitae and dwarf silver cypress, as well as deciduous ornamental shrubs such as panicle hydrangea, dwarf fragrant lilac and splendor. Ornamental grasses such as miscanthus and switchgrass are also suitable.
Evergreen flowering bushes – triumvirate as a privacy screen in the pot
The colorful array of hardy potted plants with privacy protection is opened by a triumvirate of evergreen flowering shrubs that protect your privacy. The following three ornamental trees boast beautiful flowers, autumnal fruit decorations and sometimes even defensive thorns:
- Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea), thorny branches, red, orange or yellow berries in autumn; Growth height 200-300 cm
- Red loquat (Photinia fraseri), variety 'Red Robin' with red leaves and white flowers; Growth height 150-300 cm
- Barberry (Berberis julianae), dense growth, sharp thorns and golden yellow flowers from May; Growth height 200-300 cm
The holly variety 'Heckenfee' not only cuts a fine figure as a privacy screen for the front garden. In the large pot, the dense-leaved, completely winter-hardy plant also presents itself decoratively and reliably prevents you from being bothered by onlookers.
Conifers in a pot - evergreen wall against prying eyes
If a hardy privacy screen is on the shopping list, no one can ignore evergreen conifers. Traditionally, majestic conifers watch over the house and yard as hedge plants. We looked around among the most beautiful conifers and discovered the following species that thrive equally vitally in pots and beds:
- Tree of life 'Sunkist' (Thuja occidentalis), conical growth with golden yellow shoots; 250-400cm
- Gold tree of life 'Rheingold' (Thuja occidentalis), spherical habit, soft, yellow needles; 200-400cm
- Dwarf silver cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera), conical shape with overhanging tips; 200-400cm
An innovative conifer comes from the cypress family, which impresses with its modern look, undemanding frugality and robust winter hardiness. The dwarf cypress 'Blaauw' (Juniperus chinensis) develops a funnel-shaped silhouette with obliquely aligned, blue-gray needled branches. Since the coniferous shrub remains at a height of 150 to 250 cm, it is perfect for cultivation as a privacy plant in a pot.
Summer privacy screen with flowers - these shrubs are hardy
The most beautiful privacy plants for cultivation in pots owe their winter hardiness to the fact that they shed their leaves in winter. With this strategy, survivalists save energy and reduce the attack surface for frost. If the desire for privacy is limited to the nice season, the following deciduous ornamental shrubs fulfill this task with floral splendor:
- Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata), huge flowers in summer and a dense foliage; 200-250cm
- Dwarf fragrant lilac (Syringa meyeri), blooming profusely with fragrant panicles in May and June; 120-150cm
- Spiraea vanhouttei also produces its lavish flowers in partial shade; 150-250cm
In the pot with integrated trellis, clematis (clematis) and climbing roses (pink) boast their summer flowers over an impenetrable foliage cover. If a sufficiently high trellis is available, you can look forward to a privacy screen of up to 300 cm.
Furious autumn spectacle with privacy effect
The yellowish flower spikes in summer give no indication of what the 'Royal Purple' (Cotinus coggygria) has in store for autumn. After all, the deciduous tree with its black and red leaves is useful as a privacy plant in the pot in the summer. From September/October, the plant enchants with silky, feathery fruit clusters that sit on the branches like little wigs.
Majestic grasses as a privacy screen in the pot - decorative and frost-proof
With grasses in a pot, you can equip your balcony and terrace with a stylish and easy-care privacy screen. High-growing species that are satisfied with the limited substrate volume are required here. The following overview presents recommended ornamental grasses in more detail:
| Grasses as a privacy screen in the bucket | botanical name | Growth height | Flowering time | Growth height at flowering time | special feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscanthus 'Flamingo' | Miscanthus sinensis | 120cm | August to October | 170 cm | silvery-pink flower spikes, beautiful autumn colors |
| White-variegated Chinese reed | Miscanthus sinensis | 120cm | September and October | 150cm | white edged stalks, silvery flowers |
| Switchgrass ‘Northwind’ | Panicum virgatum | 150cm | July to September | 180 cm | blue-green stalks, columnar silhouette |
| Riding grass 'Karl Foerster' | Calamagrostis x acutiflora | 100cm | June to August | 160 cm | wheat-colored ears throughout the winter |
The particular advantage of ornamental grasses as privacy screens is that they are easy to care for. In early spring, cut back the dead stalks to a hand's width above the substrate and apply an organic liquid fertilizer. Just in time for the start of the outdoor season, the grasses appear again with a dense network of countless stalks.
Tip
Provide all-round privacy protection with a green wooden pergola. You can easily attach climbing aids or trellises to posts. To ensure that climbing plants find their way from the pot to the rafters, attach wire ropes to the crossbeams. Tie the tendrils of the climbing plants with soft plastic bands or small rings.
