Frost, snow or below zero? These 15 potted plants can still stay outside - because they are absolutely hardy.
Potted plants have always been popular with gardeners. No matter whether on the balcony, the terrace or directly at the house - the plants in the pot create a great ambience and enchant with their beauty. But in winter, many potted plants are a burden. Since they cannot survive the cold temperatures, many have to be stored indoors. This puts a strain on your back and also presents smaller households with a huge space problem.
The following plants can remedy this problem - because they are not only beautiful, but also absolutely hardy in tub culture. Find out here which hardy potted plants belong to our top 15.
Tip: The frost hardiness in winter is strongly influenced by the moisture of the substrate, among other things. This should be well drained to avoid cracking the pot and damaging roots.
1. Cranesbill
The cranesbill (Geranium hybrid) has always enchanted us with its blooms. But not only its pretty appearance, but also the enormous variety of different cranesbill species and varieties make the cranesbill so popular. In addition, the plant shines with an enormous winter hardiness and is considered to be extremely easy to care for. The cranesbill is therefore often used as an easy-care ground cover, but it also cuts a fine figure as a container plant. You can find out in our special article what you still need to bear in mind when caring for cranesbills.
Although its popularity has decreased somewhat in recent years due to the box tree moth, the box tree (Buxus) is one of the classics in the garden. The evergreen bush impresses with its extreme tolerance to pruning, which is why it is often kept as a topiary. Even in winter, the boxwood is a real eye-catcher because it is very frost hardy.
3. Lavender
Lavender (Lavandulaangustifolia) is for many the epitome of a summer in Provence. The plant with a wonderfully intense aroma and the radiant purple flowers also simply invites you to dream. At the same time, lavender is a plant with a mosquito-repellent effect, which is why it is ideal as a container plant on the terrace or balcony. But it doesn't just cut a good figure in summer: the plant can withstand temperatures down to -15 °C without any problems and can therefore hibernate outside - provided it doesn't have to be in a moist substrate.
Tip: A cover of mulch material can be applied here as frost protection. Our Plantura organic pine bark, for example, is ideal for this. Not only does it provide frost protection, it also retains moisture in the soil and suppresses weeds.
4. Dwarf PineThe dwarf pine (Pinus mugo var. pumilio) is impressive proof that size is not always important. With a maximum height of 1.5 m, the tree does not come close to its larger relatives, but its small size is a decisive advantage for the garden. The dwarf pine also finds a place in small gardens and becomes a decorative eye-catcher. At the same time, the dwarf pine is extremely hardy thanks to its alpine homeland and is ideal for growing as an easy-care container plant.
5. Lemon Balm
Anyone who loves the sweet and sour taste of lemons should definitely give lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) a home. The leaves of the plant have a wonderful taste and can also be used as a medicinal herb. Since the lemon balm with its smell is also a plant against mosquitoes, it should not be missing on any balcony. Fortunately, this is not a problem: since the lemon balm is very robust, it not only survives the winter: even the lemon balm harvest can continue on frost-free days.
Most people are familiar with the Ilex (Ilex), also known as holly, as a solitary plant or hedge instead of as a container plant. In fact, it is wonderfully suited for this - especially in topiary as a ball or as a trunk, the plant is a real feast for the eyes. With its red berries and the sometimes interestingly patterned leaves, the Ilex is also a colourfulPlant in winter and add color during the dreary season. Luckily, he's very resilient to the cold.
7. Aronia
Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa), also known as chokeberry, is an attractive, very frost-hardy ornamental shrub whose fruits can be used to make jelly or jam. In autumn, the foliage of this fruit tree turns from green to burgundy. In May, on the other hand, the bees and bumblebees enjoy the white-pink umbel flowers. From this develop the black-purple fruits, which can be harvested from mid-August or left to the birds. Due to the tolerable growth height, the chokeberry is also suitable for planting in a large container, which can be more wide than deep, since the chokeberry is a flat-rooted plant.
8. Chinese Dwarf Lilac
Not only the eyes, but also the nose is immediately delighted when the Chinese dwarf lilac (Syringa meyeri) blooms. With its countless purple and pink flowers, the plant is a real splendor in spring that gives off a delicious fragrance. Bees and bumblebees love the dwarf lilac and are magically attracted to it. With a maximum height of 1.5 m and its hardiness, the Chinese dwarf lilac is wonderfully suited as a container plant.
9. Christmas rose
If you can't wait for spring and want to be enchanted by magnificent flowers in winter, the Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) is a good option for you. The main flowering time of this robust ornamental perennial is between November and February, depending on the variety. In addition, the evergreen plant is extremely hardy. Fortunately, the Christmas rose can also be cultivated in a pot. However, before buying, you should be aware that Helleborus niger is highly poisonous.
10. Shinberry
Although the fruits of the checkerberry (Gaultheria procumbens) are poisonous, they are also very decorative. Only in autumn do the fiery red berries grow on the dwarf shrub and often remain on the plant until spring - this way the cloudberry remains a real one in the cold seasoneye catcher. But the dark green foliage of the cloudberry, which sometimes turns bronze-red in winter, is not to be scoffed at either, so it is often kept as a container plant.
11. Winter heather
Winter heather or snow heather (Erica herbacea) lives up to its name: While most plants remain dormant over the winter, it attracts curious looks with its white to pink flowers. Depending on the variety, the winter heather flowers from December to April and is also extremely popular as a container plant thanks to its good winter hardiness.
12. Ginkgo ‘Mariken’
Undemanding and yet beautiful - the delicate cultivated form of the ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba 'Mariken') 'Mariken' is an extraordinary addition to any garden. The dwarf fan leaf tree can be cultivated in a tub due to its spherical, compact shape. Due to its slow growth, this ginkgo variety is ideal for a place on the terrace or in small gardens. The undemanding woody plant does not require maintenance all year round and even tolerates cold winters. The foliage is particularly attractive when it turns bright golden yellow in autumn. Freshly planted young plants are occasionally susceptible to late frost and should therefore move to a sheltered spot outdoors for the first year.
13. Harlequin Willow
With its striking pink and white variegated leaves, the Harlequin Willow (Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki') is a real eye-catcher. The attractive ornamental wood not only looks great in a perennial and woody planting, but can also be cultivated in a bucket. In addition to the low demands on the soil conditions and the high tolerance to pruning, the harlequin willow naturally impresses with its frost hardiness.
14. Corkwing Bush
The low corkwing shrub (Euonymus alatus 'Compactus') with its size of 1 to 1.5 m is ideal for gardens with limited space and does not require extensive care. In autumn you can admire the intense red autumn color of the shrub, which harmonises very well with the brightly colored fruits. QuiteApart from the high ornamental value, you benefit from the good winter hardiness of the Corkwing Shrub.
15. Japanese Spiers
The Japanese Spiraea (Spiraea japonica) is also known as the Summer Spiraea and has enchanting pink or white flowers from around June to September. The dwarf varieties 'Double Play Blue Kazoo', 'Double Play Gold' and 'Double Play Artisan' are suitable for planting in containers due to their compact growth habit and are very hardy. With the 'Double Play Blue Kazoo' variety, not only the white flower umbels are a real eye-catcher. Even the blue-green foliage is extremely decorative when the new shoots are burgundy. In autumn the entire foliage of this variety turns red.
Just like the hardy tub plants, the so-called climate trees are rather easy to care for and, above all, are adapted to the increasingly dry summer climate. Find out more about these hardy tree species in our special article.