Hardy balcony plants: Robust plants for the balcony

A green balcony in winter? No problem - we will show you eleven hardy balcony plants that are not only robust but also real eye-catchers.

A balcony becomes really cozy when beautiful plants come into play. But what was laboriously sown and planted in spring often does not bring much joy in winter. The reason: Many balcony plants are not winter-proof and will die if they are not laboriously overwintered in the house. Fortunately, there are also balcony plants that shine because of their winter hardiness. This saves you not only the annual replanting and the annoying Overwinter the plants, but also ensures that the balcony is embellished by the green roommates even in winter. Here you can find out which hardy balcony plants made it into our top 11.

If you don't enjoy the luxury of having a garden at home, you can plant a balcony also set very nice accents and at the same time also use plants that survive our winters can. Below you will find a selection of hardy balcony plants that are sure to enhance any balcony box.

Tip: When it comes to winter hardiness, correct planting and care are also important. A lower nitrogen and higher potassium content ensures better winter hardiness. We recommend the peat-free Plantura organic potting soil and the Organic flower fertilizer for strong plants.

1. Scarlet fuchsia

Fuchsias (Fuchsia) are known for many properties - but unfortunately frost hardiness is not one of them. This is now changing: the scarlet fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica), also called outdoor fuchsia, not only impresses with its two-tone flowers, but is also partially hardy. Temperatures down to -5 ° C are no problem for the balcony plant. If it is given additional protection made of straw, fir branches or leaves, it can spend the entire winter outdoors. But not only the scarlet fuchsia, which is a wild form of the fuchsia, can survive the winter outside. There are now a few hardy fuchsia varietiesthat are suitable for wintering outdoors. Particularly popular are, for example, the brightly colored 'Tom West', the red and white 'Alice Hoffmann' or the bright red 'Calcedonia'.

2. Double-flowered pseudo-chamomile

With its small, double flowers, the double-flowered pseudo-chamomile 'Plenum' (Chamaemelum nobile 'Plenary') a real beauty. Because of its carpet-like, dense growth, the plant is often called Ground cover used, but slowly it is also enjoying growing popularity as a balcony plant. This is not least due to the heavenly, pleasant scent that the double-flowered pseudo-chamomile exudes. In addition, it is particularly hardy because it can withstand temperatures down to -35 ° C.

3. Hardy geraniums

Not all geraniums are created equal - in fact, two genera share the same name in common parlance: Both the pelargoniums (Pelargonium) as well as the stork shabbles (Geranium) often referred to trivially as geraniums. The bad news first: The popular pelargoniums, also known as "balcony geraniums", are unfortunately not winter hardy. The first minus straight line in autumn is already taking a toll on the beautiful flowers. If you still want to give the flowers a home, you should Hibernate geraniums in the house permit. The cork's beaks, on the other hand, are robust and consistently defy winter. The cork's beaks are particularly common in gardens - no wonder, after all, the plants have beautiful pink to purple flowers. But it is not only here that the plants shine: some of the slow-growing ones Cranesbill variety is even suitable as a long-term balcony planting.

4. Irish ivy

Tired of prying eyes? Then the Irish ivy (Hedera hibernica) just right for you. the hardy climber can be optimal as a Plant for privacy protection serve if you let them grow on the balcony railing. But ivy is also a great eye-catcher as a hanging plant for a hanging basket. Bees and other beneficial insects are also enthusiastic about ivy and are magically attracted to it. In addition, it impresses with its easy-care nature and robustness - temperatures below freezing point usually do not affect the plant.

5. Evergreen candytuft

The name says it all: The evergreen candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) ensures great leaf decoration all year round. From April to May, the clumpy growing plant also gives us beautiful, snow-white flowers that are almost reminiscent of snow, which is why it is also known as a snow pillow. The evergreen candytuft is particularly suitable as a hardy balcony plant, because it is not only beautiful, but also offers good winter hardiness.

6. Upholstery phlox

The upholstery phlox is known (Phlox subulata) especially as Plant for rock gardens or to Greening of walls, but also as a container plant on the balcony it makes a powerful impression. In spring, the plant turns into a veritable sea of ​​white, pink or blue-violet flowers. But also their easy-care and robust nature make the upholstery phlox so popular. The plant hardly needs any attention and is hardy even at temperatures down to -20 ° C.

7. Garden silver bells

Beautiful bell blossoms and an impressive leaf decoration - the garden silver bells (Heuchera micrantha) is truly an eye-catcher. The strong dark red to green colored leaves are particularly eye-catching. Fortunately, the garden silver bells delight us all year round with its splendor - the balcony plant is not only evergreen, but is also very hardy.

8. Shamberry

This promises red berries that still shine bright red even in the coldest winter Shamberry (Gaultheria procumbens). The ornamental wood is a real eye-catcher on the balcony, because it keeps its berries from autumn to deep winter. But also in the rest of the year, the pseudo-berries are a feast for the eyes: their green leaves, which sometimes turn bronze-red in winter, and the white-pink flowers quickly attract everyone's attention. Fortunately, the pseudo-berries can stay on the balcony all year round because they are considered to be very frost-hardy.

9. Hardy balcony herbs

Those who like to cook will enjoy herbal springs on their own balcony. In general, many herbs are suitable for a long stay over a few winters - also for the balcony. It should be noted, however, that some herbs are absorbed in winter and only sprout again in spring and provide harvest material. Other herbs that lignify and grow as subshrubes, on the other hand, are even perfect for harvesting during the cold season. To the hardy herbsthat should not be missing on any balcony include many Thyme varieties (Thymus), peppermint (Mentha x piperita) or Woodruff (Galium odoratum).

10. Snow heather

If you don't want to do without color in winter, you should definitely get one Snow heather (Erica carnea) offer a place on their balcony. Depending on the variety and the weather, the dwarf shrub blooms from December to April in white, pink or even strong pink. But even if the heather is not in bloom, its green, needle-like leaves are by no means unattractive. And of course the snow heather is also hardy: Temperatures down to -25 ° C do not affect the plant.

11. Ornamental cabbage

Those looking for cabbage are more likely to go to the vegetable patch than to the balcony. Of the Ornamental cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) but definitely deserves special treatment: With its two-tone leaves, it is a real eye-catcher in the balcony box. Closely related to that Kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) the ornamental cabbage can also be wonderfully prepared and eaten - with its bright green, white or even purple leaves, the plant is actually much too good for the saucepan. Like almost all types of cabbage, ornamental cabbage is a typical winter vegetable and can withstand temperatures down to -10 ° C without any problems.

Further hardy plants can be found here in our overview article.