A flower box on the north side doesn't have to lead a shadowy existence. A colorful array of magnificent flowers, perennials and grasses also shows off their decorative side in the shady location. We have put together some of the most beautiful species and varieties for you here.
Which plants are suitable for a shady balcony box?
Flowering plants such as bush anemone, busy lilies, lily cluster and mountain forest cranesbill as well as foliage plants such as small gold hosta, dark goose, purple spurge, Japanese rainbow fern and heart quaking grass are suitable for a shady balcony box. A pretty, carpet-forming perennial is periwinkle 'Green Carpet'.
Colorful flowers in the shady flower box - a hand-picked selection
Shadow bloomers are in short supply in the plant kingdom. Nevertheless, various flowers and perennials have managed to bloom for a long time and magnificently with minimal light output. You can get to know some of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry for the shady flower box here:
| Shadow bloomers for the flower box | Botanical name | Flowering time | Growth height | annual/perennial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bush anemone | Anemone nemorosa | March to April | 15cm | perennial |
| Hardworking Lieschen | Impatiens Accent | May to October | 20-35 cm | annual |
| lily cluster | Liriope muscari | August to October | 20-25 cm | perennial |
| Mountain Forest Cranesbill | Geranium nodosum | June to November | 25-30 cm | perennial |
Decorative leaf plants – the low-light experts in the plant kingdom
Where the sun is a rare guest all year round, ornamental foliage plants boast floral beauty. The following species and varieties replace flowers in the shady flower box with colorful, shapely leaves:
| Leaf decorations for shady balcony boxes | Botanical name | special attribute | Growth height | annual/perennial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Gold Hosta | Hosta 'Golden Wave' | golden-yellow, lanceolate leaves | 20-25 cm | perennial |
| Dark Günsel | Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ | dark red, shiny foliage | 15-20 cm | perennial |
| Purple Spurge | Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Purpurea’ | green leaves, purple in winter, on red stems | 25-30 cm | perennial |
| Japanese Rainbow Fern‘ | Athyrium niponicum ‘Metallicum’ | silvery-purple fronds | 20-40 cm | perennial |
| Heart Quaking Grass | Briza media 'Trembling Zebra' | white-colored stalks | 20-30 cm | perennial |
Elegantly hanging cushions adorn every flower box. For this purpose, creative home gardeners plant carpet-forming or climbing plants in balcony boxes in the foreground. The pretty perennial periwinkle (Vinca minor 'Green Carpet') has emerged for shady locations. From April to May, the undemanding beauty with light blue flowers also acts as a distinctive herald of spring.
Tip
Planting hardy balcony boxes in the shade is one of the special challenges in creative garden design. The small purple bell 'Berry Smoothie' (Heuchera villosa) belongs to the illustrious circle of floral survival artists for these location requirements. The hardy jewel impresses with pink decorative leaves whose edges curl decoratively.
