A colorful dance of frost-resistant plants gives the balcony a friendly face in winter. Beautifully shaped leaves, bright fruit decorations and elegant growth forms now have the say. Hardy perennials even boast winter flowers. Get to know the first guard of beautiful balcony plants for the winter here.
Winter bloomers for boxes and pots – curtain up for flowers in the snow
Winter bloomers amaze us with their splendor of flowers in the midst of ice and snow. The following balcony plants cannot be prevented from producing flowers in boxes and pots by bitter frost:
| Winter-flowering balcony plants for boxes and containers | botanical name | Growth height | Flowers | Flowering time | suitable for | Special feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winterheide 'Kramers Rote' | Erica darleyensis | 30 to 40 cm | pink bud flowers | December to April | Boxes and buckets | beautiful in combination with winter heather 'White Perfection' |
| Christmas rose 'Praecox' | Helleborus niger | 15 to 25 cm | white bowls | November to April | Balcony box | transplant into the bed after one winter season |
| Pansies | Viola tricolor | 10 to 20 cm | numerous shades | October to March | Balcony box | blooms non-stop in the mild winter |
| Winter Jasmine | Jasminum nudiflorum | 250 to 300 cm | yellow, simple flowers | December to March | Bucket | Climbing assistance required |
| Mediterranean Snowball 'Gwenllian' | Viburnum tinus | 100 to 130 cm | spherical, white-pink flower umbels | November to April | Bucket | blooms in a protected location with light winter protection |
Fruit decorations and evergreen foliage – a picturesque duo for the winter balcony
We don't want to withhold one of the most beautiful balcony plants for winter decoration from you. The red carpet berry (Gaultheria procumbens) impresses with shiny, evergreen and very distinctive leaves, which are complemented by red berries in winter. As the winter progresses, the dense foliage turns bronze-red, which creates floral moments of happiness in boxes and pots.
Delicate and frost-hardy – ornamental grasses for the winter balcony
Wintergreen and evergreen ornamental grasses fill gaps or stand out as solitary plants. The striking grass heads should therefore not be missing from the creative design plan for the winter time on the balcony. We have compiled recommended species and varieties for you below:
- White Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii): evergreen, white-edged stalks, well hardy; 30-40cm
- Blue Fescue 'Mountain Silver' (Festuca cinerea): blue-green grass heads with a silvery shimmer; 10-30cm
- Small pampas grass 'Evita' (Cortaderia selloana): decorative solitaire for the winter pot; 60-150cm
Winter-resistant ornamental grasses are characterized by their uncomplicated care. Since the stalks continually evaporate water, please water regularly on mild days, even during the winter. Simply comb out evergreen grasses in spring with gloved hands. Only cut wintergreen, deciduous ornamental grasses back in March to a hand's width above the substrate.
Tip
The information on frost hardiness of up to -40 degrees Celsius suggests a winter hardiness that is not present on the balcony. In pots and flower boxes, the root balls of winter-proof balcony plants are vulnerable to frost. Therefore, cover the vessels with fleece (€7.00 on Amazon), foil or coconut mats. A foot made of wood or Styrofoam protects against freezing frost from below.