A hellebore opening in December, the silver leaves of ragwort, the colourful heads of ornamental cabbage and the silky strands of Carex sedge: a winter planter need not be bare. Plenty of plants take the cold without damage, and the one thing that decides success is matching them to the sunlight your balcony or windowsill really gets.
A great number of plants can take the season’s cold temperatures without any damage at all. Greenery and color are definitely an option for your windowsill planters.
Choose your plants based on the exposure and sunlight your balcony or windowsill gets. Most flowers need lots of sun, but many small conifer trees and certain plants with ornamental leafage (ivy, Carex, Heuchera…) will do great in the shade.
Winter is actually a season that is well-suited to welcoming vegetation without flowers on your deck or terrace: an inspired play with hues and colors will produce elegant garden boxes that will have nothing to be ashamed of when compared to summer planter compositions.
The article gathers three families of winter interest: the rare winter bloomers, the plants grown for their leaves, and the evergreen or berried shrubs. Here is what each one actually brings to a box or pot.
| Plant or group | Winter interest | Why choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Hellebore (Christmas rose) | Flowers in December | As hardy as it gets, and easy to grow |
| Winter heather | White, pink or red flowers | Slow grower that can stay years in the same pot, and prefers shade |
| Silver ragwort, ornamental cabbage, Carex sedge | Silver leaves, colourful heads, silky strands | Fun to pair together for dramatic designer planters |
| Dwarf conifers | Shades of green in a cone-like shape | Structure volumes and add vertical lines |
| Holly | Evergreen foliage | Green on deck and balcony all year round |
| Japanese spindle | Variegated leaves | Stands out among the other leaf plants |
| Berry shrubs (ornamental apple, female holly, gaultheria) | Bright berries | Dots of vivid colour in a miniature landscape |
Mixing one bloomer, one foliage plant and one berried or conifer shape is enough to build a full composition.
Hellebore, or Christmas rose, is one of the very rare flowers to bloom in December. As hardy as it gets, it’s also easy to grow. Another way to go is early bloomers. Among these you’ll find plethora of spring flowers: narcissus and daffodil, pansy, violet, the unforgettable primrose and also cyclamen for areas with milder winters.
Whether white, pink or red, winter heather will always be found pleasing with its charming vintage appearance. This slow grower is perfect for lazy gardeners: it can stay for years in the same pot! Great option as well for shaded portions of the balcony, since heather prefers shade to full sun.
A great many options are now available, with surprising original choices such as the silver-leaved silver ragwort, colorful heads of ornamental cabbage, and silky strands of Carex sedge grass. These are fun to pair together. Experiment to create your own dramatic designer planters!
The eternally green holly shrub will grace the deck and balcony with green all year round, and a series of dwarf conifer trees will also help structure volumes and shades of green. They typically take on the cone-like shape of miniature pine trees, which is excellent to add vertical lines to your compositions. Other leaf plants like Japanese spindle stand out thanks to their variegated leaves.
Berry shrubs – ornamental apple, female holly cultivars, gaultheria, etc. will contribute dots of bright color to your miniature landscape. All in all an excellent endeavor to turn the mood from gray to great during the cold season!
L. H.
