Hardy or sensitive to frost?

Native perennial with reliable winter hardiness

the Heather carnation is at home in Germany and all of Europe, so that it has adapted well to the adverse weather conditions of winter. Botanists assign the perennial to the winter hardiness zone Z3. This category includes all plants that can withstand temperatures of up to - 40 degrees Celsius without any problems. Thus, no special precautions need to be taken before winter.

In the year of planting, light winter protection makes sense

The heather carnation only develops its stable frost resistance in the course of the first two years of standing. Perennials planted in autumn should therefore receive protection from severe frost. Cover the root disc with autumn leaves or pine needles, protect the young plants from the rigors of the cold season. Alternatively, spread a breathable fleece over the planting area.

This is how the heather carnation hibernates in the pot and balcony box

In the bucket and Flower box(€ 149.00 at Amazon *) the root ball is in a vulnerable position behind the vessel walls. While heather carnations can rely on the protection of the soil in beds, this does not apply to balcony plants. How to ensure overwintering in the planter:

• Relocate the bucket and balcony box in front of the south wall of the house
• On a block of wood or a Styrofoam plate(€ 43.00 at Amazon *) place
• Cover the vessel with jute, fleece or foil
• Pile leaves, pine needles or straw on the substrate

Small pots and Flower boxes(€ 149.00 at Amazon *) please move to the bright, frost-free winter quarters. Here you water the heather from time to time so that the root ball does not dry out. Since the flower does not shed its foliage in winter, evaporation continues. The plant does not receive fertilizer in winter.