Balcony plants hardy: that is what you need to know

Decorative and easy to care for
These hardy balcony plants defy icy temperatures

So that sensitive plants do not perish in winter, they can be brought into the house temporarily and stored in a cool place. However, if you don’t have the space for it or if you want to plant your balcony – despite the cold – you should use hardy perennials, grasses and herbs. They require little maintenance, can withstand even freezing temperatures and are still extremely decorative. Which plants are suitable for the balcony and what you need to consider when watering or fertilizing in winter is explained below.

So you can easily plant the balcony in winter

Perennials, grasses and herbs are insensitive to the cold and are therefore ideal for planting balcony boxes. Here is a small selection of hardy balcony plants that you should know a few details about:

pagan
Not every pagan will survive a frosty night outdoors, even if you can currently find a wide variety of different varieties in the flower shops. If you want to plant it on your balcony, you should definitely take a hardy plant, such as common heather. This has white or pink flowers, is 10 to 60 centimeters high, likes acidic soils and sun. Or you can opt for snow heather, which has a maximum height of 30 centimeters and white, purple or red flowers.

Christmas rose

The plant, also known as the snow rose, blooms from November to January and is therefore ideal for the balcony, as cold temperatures do not mind at all. It is easy to care for as long as the earth is poured regularly and thus remains moist, and is satisfied with a (half) shady spot. the Christmas rose has a low stature height of a maximum of 25 centimeters and can be moved to the garden after winter so that it will sprout again next year – and also bloom, of course.

Panicle hydrangea
Even if snow falls less and less in Germany, it could Panicle hydrangea do nothing. The hardy plant rarely needs to be watered and can be carelessly placed on the balcony as long as the flower box has a diameter of 40 to 50 centimeters (unfortunately, smaller pots have to hibernate in the house). The flowers only grow on the young shoots, so the earth should be covered with fir or spruce branches before the first frost – bark mulch would also work.

Cranesbill

At the Cranesbill it is a native genus that is not only hardy, but also easy to care for, easy to grow and (from May to November) floriferous. Their height is between ten and 50 centimeters, that always depends on the respective space and location. It doesn’t like waterlogging, but it still needs to be watered regularly. The balcony plant does not mind freezing temperatures, but the roots do not tolerate freezing temperatures – but can with the help of insulation (e.g. Styrofoam) to be protected.

rosemary
In contrast to other balcony plants is rosemary Not only nice to look at, but also edible. Although it is not completely hardy, it can withstand temperatures down to minus ten degrees Celsius. And since the winter in Germany is getting milder from year to year, the herbs can be left outside without hesitation. And should it ever get too cold, you can wrap the branches with bubble wrap or a jute bag. It is important, however, that rosemary still needs to be watered regularly.

eucalyptus

Although it only blooms from June to August, it has very decorative, silvery-blue leaves – and normally tolerates temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius. In addition, its typical eucalyptus scent should be able to drive away mosquitoes and flies in summer. The maintenance effort is low, as the hardy balcony plant needs little water and a sunny spot. Depending on how often it is cut back, can eucalyptus up to five meters high.

thyme
Another herb that can visually beautify the balcony and is suitable for consumption: thyme actually grows in hot countries and still tolerates cold temperatures. Only if the periods of frost last particularly long should you protect the branches – as with rosemary – from the icy temperatures and cover the earth with fir branches or spruce twigs. The hardy balcony plant has to be watered regularly, but does not like “wet feet” as it could rot.

lavender

The most beautiful thing about a lavender is its purple, fragrant flowers. Unfortunately, these are only visible until September at the latest. Nevertheless, the plant can overwinter on the balcony and sprout again in the next year. It is important here that you cut back the lavender regularly so that it grows evenly and does not become too woody and beautifully bushy. He needs the winter lavender only little water and prefers a sunny location.

And one more tip at the end: If you want to do something good for your hardy plants, use Potting soilwhich is low in nitrogen and has a higher percentage of potassium. The right one fertilizer is just as important.

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