The so-called snowflake flower (Sutera) comes from South Africa in its wild form with white flowers, but is now increasingly being bred with a wide variety of flower colors. What is particularly visually appealing about this low-growing balcony plant is the balanced ratio between the green leaf mass and the flowers, which are shaped like small snowflakes.
Is the snowflake flower hardy?
The snowflake flower (Sutera) is not hardy in Central Europe and can die in frost. To overwinter, you should place the plant in a bright room at temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius and check regularly for pests.
Don't be fooled by the name
Even if the name of the snowflake flower might suggest otherwise, the snowflake flower is by no means hardy outdoors in Central European regions with winter frost. Similar to the busy Lieschen and other popular balcony plants, the snowflake flower can withstand minimal temperatures for a short time, but in severe frosts this plant quickly wilts outdoors. Many balcony owners therefore use the snowflake flower as an annual flowering plant on the balcony. If you have suitable winter quarters, you can also overwinter the snowflake flower.
Overwintering the snowflake flower
If you want to overwinter the snowflake flower for the following garden season, then you shouldn't wait too long before winterizing it in autumn. Otherwise, autumn night frosts could all too easily put a stop to your plans. The snowflake flower is ideally overwintered at temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius in a room that is as bright as possible. Not only do you have to make sure to water the snowflake flower regularly and sparingly during the winter months. You should also regularly check the plants in their winter quarters for possible infestation with the following pests:
- Aphids
- Whiteflies
- Spider mites
Be careful with young plants of the snowflake flower
Like the morning glories, you can grow the snowflake flower indoors from seeds during the winter months, but you should not plant the young plants outdoors too quickly. Be sure to wait for late frosts until the beginning of May before planting the young plants in their location between petunias and busy lizards on the balcony.
Tip
The snowflake flower can be propagated not only by sowing seeds, but also by cuttings. To do this, head cuttings are cut from the particularly long shoots of the plant in summer. These usually root relatively easily if they have plenty of light and sufficient moisture available. The rooted cuttings can be overwintered like mother plants and separated into their new location in the spring.
