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 real eye-catchers.

A balcony becomes really homely when beautiful plants come into play. But what was painstakingly 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 indoors. Fortunately, there are also balcony plants that shine with their winter hardiness. This saves not only the annual replanting and the annoying overwintering of plants, but also ensures that the balcony is beautified by the green roommates even in winter. Here you can find out which hardy balcony plants made it into our top 11.

Anyone who does not enjoy the luxury of having a garden at home can plant their balcony also set very nice accents and at the same time use plants that survive our winters be able. Below you will find a selection of hardy balcony plants that are sure to enhance any balcony box.

Tip: Winter hardiness also depends on the right planting and care. A lower nitrogen and higher potassium content ensures improved 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 hardness is not one of them. This is changing now: The scarlet fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica), also known as outdoor fuchsia, not only impresses with its two-tone flowers, but is also conditionally hardy. Temperatures down to -5 °C are no problem for the balcony plant. If you give her additional protection from straw, fir branches or leaves, she 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 overwintering outdoors. The variegated 'Tom West', the red and white 'Alice Hoffmann' or the bright red 'Calcedonia' are particularly popular.

2. Double flowering false chamomile

With its small, filled flowers, the double-flowered false chamomile 'Plenum' (Chamaemelum nobile 'Plenum') a true beauty. Because of its carpet-like, dense growth, the plant is often referred to as a 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 false chamomile exudes. In addition, it is particularly hardy because it can withstand temperatures down to -35 °C.

3. Hardy geraniums

Geranium is not just geranium - in fact, two genera share the same name in common parlance: Both the pelargonium (pelargonium) as well as the stork beaks (geranium) often trivially referred to as geraniums. The bad news first: The popular geraniums, also known as "balcony geraniums", are unfortunately not hardy. The beautiful flowers are already clearly affected by the first negative straight line in autumn. If you still want to give the flowers a home, you should Overwinter geraniums indoors permit. Cranesbills, on the other hand, are robust and consistently defy the winter. Cranesbills are becoming more and more common in gardens in particular - no wonder, after all, the plants have beautiful pink to purple flowers. But the plants don't only shine here: Some weak-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 one Plant for privacy serve if you let them grow on the balcony railing. But the ivy is also a great eye-catcher as a hanging plant for a hanging basket. Bees and other beneficial insects are also enthusiastic about the ivy and are magically attracted to it. In addition, it impresses with its easy-care nature and robustness - temperatures below freezing usually do not bother the plant.

5. Evergreen candytuft

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

6. cushion phlox

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

7. Garden Silverbells

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

8. checkerberry

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

9. Hardy balcony herbs

Those who like to cook will really 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. However, it should be noted that some herbs wither in the winter and only sprout again in the spring and provide harvest material. Other herbs that grow woody and as a subshrub are even perfect for harvesting during the cold season. To the hardy herbs, which should not be missing on any balcony, include many thyme varieties (thymus), peppermint (mentha x piperita) or woodruff (Galium odoratum).

10. snow heath

If you don't want to do without color in winter, you should definitely have one snow heath (Erica carnea) offer a seat on his balcony. Depending on the variety and the weather, the dwarf shrub flowers in white, pink or even bright pink from December to April. But even when the heather is not in bloom, it is by no means unattractive with its green, needle-like leaves. And of course the snow heath is also hardy: temperatures down to -25 °C do not bother the plant.

11. ornamental cabbage

If you are looking for cabbage, you will probably go to the vegetable patch and not to the balcony. the ornamental cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) definitely deserves special treatment: With its two-tone leaves, it is a real eye-catcher in the window box. Closely related to that Kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) the ornamental cabbage can also be wonderfully prepared and eaten - but with its radiant green, white or even violet leaves, the plant is actually much too good for the cooking pot. Like almost all types of cabbage, ornamental cabbage is a typical winter vegetable and can easily tolerate temperatures down to -10 °C.

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