5 Winter-Hardy Plants to Beautify Your Balcony

Would you like to enjoy a colourful balcony in winter too? Then winter balcony plants are the perfect solution for a lively outdoor space during the cold months. Winter balcony plants are just what you need to liven up your outdoor space in the cold months. These plants can survive winter outside in the UK and stay pretty even when it’s freezing. You don’t have to put up with a bare balcony when winter comes.

1. Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)

Wintergreen is a compact, evergreen plant that grows no taller than 6 inches (ca. 15 cm). Its most striking feature is the bright red berries that create a beautiful contrast against the deep green foliage. The berries remain on the plant for extended periods as birds aren’t particularly fond of them, meaning you can enjoy these cheerful red accents throughout the winter.

What’s special about wintergreen is that its leaves release a pleasant, minty fragrance when touched. This makes the plant not only visually appealing but adds an extra sensory dimension to your balcony experience.

Wintergreen is an ideal choice for your balcony for several reasons. It’s one of the most low-maintenance hardy plants that grows slowly and requires minimal pruning. The plant thrives best in a partially shaded spot on your balcony. Moreover, it’s perfect for smaller spaces and grows excellently in containers.

2. Winter Heath (Erica carnea)

Winter Heath is a robust plant that brings colour and life to your balcony when other plants are dormant. This compact winter flowering plant for planters, perfectly in balcony containers. With a modest height of 4 to 12 inches (ca. 30 cm), it forms a dense carpet of fine, needle-like foliage.

As one of the hardiest winter balcony plants, Winter Heath can withstand temperatures as low as -25 °C. This makes it a reliable choice for your balcony, even during the harshest winters. A particular advantage is that its flowers provide an essential food source for pollinators like bees and butterflies. The most remarkable feature of this plant is that you can enjoy numerous small, bell-shaped flowers in white, pink, purple, or red throughout winter and into spring.

It’s crucial to water Winter Heath only on frost-free days. During extended periods of frost, protect the container by wrapping it in horticultural fleece. The best time to prune the plant is in spring after flowering, but be careful not to cut into the old wood.

3. Skimmia (Skimmia)

The Skimmia is an excellent choice among winter balcony plants, offering year-round elegance with its glossy foliage and colourful accents. This versatile shrub is perfect for those seeking a low-maintenance yet stylish addition to their balcony garden.

This compact, slow-growing shrub thrives brilliantly in containers and planters. What makes this plant particularly special is its glossy, leathery leaves that remain green throughout the year. From November through March, red flower buds adorn the branches, opening into fragrant white blooms in April.

Skimmia requires minimal maintenance as balcony plants go. Pay extra attention to watering when container-grown, especially during dry spells. During severe frost below -15 °C, it’s advisable to protect the pot with horticultural fleece.

Hardy plants like Skimmia are an ideal choice when planting for the balcony, as you can control their growth to suit your space. A light pruning after flowering in May or June easily maintains the desired compact shape.

4. Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla erythropoda)

This compact beauty grows no taller than 6 to 8 inches (ca. 20 cm) and forms an elegant carpet of velvety, soft green leaves. The most fascinating aspect of this remarkable winter balcony plant is how water droplets rest like glistening pearls on the leaves after rainfall. From May to July, this champion among hardy plants adorns your balcony with delicate, yellow-green flowers that subtly rise above the foliage.

Water Lady’s Mantle during dry spells, but avoid waterlogged soil. For a second flowering in September, trim spent blooms immediately after the first flush. In spring, remove old, dead foliage to make way for fresh growth.

5. Drooping Leucothoe

The Drooping Leucothoe is one of the best winter plants that adorns your outdoor space throughout the year with a spectacular colour display. It adds a unique dimension to your winter garden or balcony with its elegant, arching branches.

The most striking feature of this hardy balcony plant is its dramatic colour transformation during winter. The foliage shifts from deep green to stunning shades of burgundy and purple. The more winter sunlight your Leucothoe receives, the more intense these colours become.

Ensure proper watering for the Leucothoe, but prevent waterlogging by providing adequate drainage in the container. An annual pruning session after flowering maintains the plant’s shape and encourages new growth. For best results, prune older stems down to the base while only lightly trimming younger branches.

Tips for caring for winter-hardy plants on your balcony

Successfully maintaining winter outdoor plants requires a thoughtful approach throughout the year. With proper care, your winter balcony plants can not only survive but thrive during the cold months.

Good preparation begins in autumn. Gradually reduce watering during this period to help plants adapt to the approaching winter. This helps them build strength before winter sets in.

For optimal protection of your winter-hardy plants on the balcony, you can use various materials:

• bubble wrap or horticultural fleece for pot protection
• coir mats or sheep’s wool for natural insulation
• pine branches or straw for ground cover
• hessian sacks for protecting shrubs
• aluminium foil for young stems

Caring for winter-hardy plants on your balcony during winter

The positioning of your winter balcony plants plays a vital role in their survival during the coldest months. For optimal protection, place containers:

• against a sheltered wall
• in wind-protected areas
• under cover where possible
• on wooden boards or polystyrene bases

Pay special attention to watering your winter-hardy plants during the colder months. Water only during the warmest parts of frost-free days, and avoid getting water on leaves and branches. This prevents frost damage to your evergreen balcony plants.

For container plants, proper drainage is crucial. Ensure excess water can escape and remove saucers during wet periods. Excessive moisture combined with frost can be particularly damaging to the roots of your balcony plants.

Provide additional root protection by insulating the container. Pots freeze more quickly than garden soil. While various materials can be used for insulation, ensure adequate air circulation is maintained to prevent fungal growth and rot.

For evergreen winter-hardy plants in containers, it’s essential to prevent wind-induced dehydration. A windbreak or strategic placement among other plants can help. However, maintain sufficient spacing between plants, as good air circulation remains crucial.

Common issues with winter-hardy plants

Even the most resilient winter balcony plants can face challenges during the cold season. Understanding how to identify these issues and knowing the appropriate solutions can make the difference between mere survival and thriving plants on your balcony.

One of the most underestimated challenges when maintaining winter balcony plants is the combination of frost and sunlight. When the soil freezes and leaves warm up in the sun, your plant attempts to draw water from the frozen soil. Unable to do so, the leaves begin to dehydrate. Therefore, it’s crucial to protect your plants from direct sunlight during frosty periods.

Different winter-hardy plants face varying challenges. For instance, a large winter-hardy plant in an outdoor container is more susceptible to wind-induced dehydration, while deciduous plants generally handle cold better but are more prone to rotting.

When insulating your containers, ensure you don’t block the drainage holes. Excess water must always be able to drain away to prevent frost damage to the roots.

Want to learn more about winter-proofing your plants? Check out our guide on how to prepare your garden for winter.

FAQ about winter-hardy plants for the balcony

Add lasting colour to your garden with winter outdoor plants

Winter balcony plants offer endless possibilities to keep your outdoor space attractive throughout the year. While they require specific attention, they reward you generously with their winter beauty through unique flowers, decorative berries, or stunning foliage. With the knowledge from this article and proper care, you can transform your balcony into a cosy green paradise that will continue to amaze you through all seasons.

If you’re intrigued by the idea of creating a vibrant balcony garden, explore our comprehensive guide on setting up your balcony oasis. Alternatively, discover how to transform a small outdoor space into a charming vertical garden.

Looking for more inspiration or have questions? Browse through our other articles in our help and advice section, or please have no hesitation to ask your questions below!

Happy balcony gardening!

Louis Hooft

Founder & Lawn expert

Introducing Louis Hooft, the founder of MOOWY and your reliable expert. With a profound love for stunning lawns and extensive experience in garden maintenance, Louis is here to assist garden enthusiasts in achieving a greener and livelier outdoors than ever before. Count on Louis for invaluable tips, clever tricks, and top-notch products to make your garden flourish!