20 Plants That Are Perfect for Window Boxes

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Window box beautify with verdure and florals amp up a home ’s aesthetic , wee-wee it look graceful and welcoming . Best of all , no matter where you call home — whether a theater or an apartment — you in all probability have space for one of these small planting bed .

Because a window box sit down front and center , proudly seeable from the street , assemble a intermixture of plants that see arresting . There are so many corking gullible and vivacious options that add texture , color , vary heights , dramatic play , and more . Here are some of our window box seat favorites .

A window planter with an assortment of colorful flowering platns.

Photo: Grace Cary/Moment via Getty Images

1. Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)

The lush foliage ofsweet potato vine(Ipomoea batatas ) comes in many colors , making it a surefire win for any window loge . moot get the basswood dark-green ‘ Margarita ’ , the deep purple ‘ lulu ’ , or the gray - unripened - pink’Tricolor ’ mixed bag , all of which are humble maintenance andeasy to spring up .

2. Coleus (Coleusspp.)

Abounding with coloured foliage , coleuscomes in both sun and shade multifariousness . Its shaggy appearance cook coleus a peachy filler and accent flora , although bold diversity like ‘ Chocolate Covered Cherry ’ and ‘ Kong Red ’ are flamboyant enough to be the main result in a window corner .

3. Petunias (Petuniaspp.)

Petunias are summertime ’s workhorse , continuously pumping out vivacious blooms in the season ’s harsh heat . The annuals are available in shades of clean , reddened , pink , and purpleness , and you could even chance striped , speckle , and fringed sort . ConsiderPetunia axillaris , or untamed white petunia , if you ’d like a shaggy-coated plant , or opt instead for cascadingWaveor Surfinia petunias , which will spill exuberantly over the boundary of your windowpane box .

4. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)

creep Jenny , also lie with as moneywort , is a vigorousground coverthat ’s also sensational in window boxful . useable in shades of green and amber , its dumbly wad , rounded leaves cascade from planters and attend very much like trailing vine . Its small yellow flowers are pretty but do n’t stick around long .

5. Dusty Miller (Centaurea cineraria)

Dusty millerhas textured silver foliage that collide with a dazzle contrast with colorful blooms . The ‘ Silver Dust ’ cultivar originate 12 to 18 column inch , while the ‘ Silver Lace ’ and ‘ Cirrus ’ kind reach heights of 6 to 8 inches . Dusty miller is a drought - tolerant flora and easygoing to maintain , making it a good pick for those lacking a green thumb .

6. Fuchsia (Fuchsiaspp.)

While fuchsia is typically used inhanging field goal , its colored flowers make it a welcome plus to any container garden . Most varieties offuchsialove the shade , so as long as you avoid putting your windowpane box in full sun , the flora ’s season - long extravagant purple and pink flush will make yourcurb appealpop .

7. Impatiens (Impatiensspp.)

To achieve pleasant-tasting color in a deeply shaded window box seat , give moisture - loving impatiens a try . The most common potpourri in the United States , Impatiens walleriana , is prosperous to maintain , spring up well in container , and is available in a wide range of vividness , including pink , red , imperial , orangish , and jaundiced .

8. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

With flashy tall spike incubate in lavish blooms , snapdragon is an middle - catch plus to any window loge . Commonsnapdragoncan grow anywhere from 4 inch to 3 feet high , so debate a form ’s size before selecting it for a window loge . Snapdragon has low drought tolerance , so mix it with other hungry plants and be trusted to give it plenty of water .

9. Verbena (Verbenaspp.)

Sun - lovingverbenacascades out of windowpane boxful and other containers , displaying its pretty blooms from mid - springtime well into tumble . The drought - tolerant , easy - careplant come in a multifariousness of colors , include the ‘ Superbena Violet Ice ’ cultivar , which boasts bright royal efflorescence , and ‘ Lanai Candy Cane ’ , which , just as you ’d expect , play red and livid stripes .

10. Variegated Ivy (Hedera helix‘Variegata’)

Variegated ivyprefers bright , indirect light , though it will tolerate full sun as long as it gets plenty of water . If it does n’t get enough brightness level , the variegation wo n’t be as marked . The evergreen plant industrial plant will run over the edges of a windowpane box and supply a leafy contrast to vivid bloom of youth .

11. Licorice Plant (Helichrysum petiolare)

Homeowners often chooselicorice plantfor window boxes for its unusual felted foliation . The cultivar ‘ White Licorice ’ is actually silvery white , while ‘ Lemon Licorice ’ has buttery yellow leafage . Both make a spectacular counterpoint to amply colored blooms . This South African aborigine ca n’t take cold weather , so be inclined to say arrivederci to it when fall feeler , unless you ’re in the very southern U.S.

12. Trailing Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis‘Prostratus’)

Trailing , or crawling , rosemary adds an intriguing textural element and marvelous bouquet to window box . Unlike upright rosemary , creeping rosemarysends out runners that shed beautifully over the edge of acontainer . Sometimes called prostrate rosemary , this Mediterranean aboriginal like hot weather and is drouth - tolerant . It evidence off little empurpled blossom in spring and summertime .

13. Strawberry (Fragariaspp.)

Strawberry plantsare a feast for the eyes and the tummy . These flourish beauties are easy to grow , with lush green folio and rounded pinkish or white-hot blossom — not to bring up the edible strawberry that spill over the sides of your window box .

Areas with full sun are best for these flora . When kept in moistsoilfor at least 6 hours offull sunlighteach mean solar day , strawberry plantsshould produce a miniature crop for you to harvest in June ( or throughout the summertime if you choose an everbearing variety ) .

14.Silver Ponysfoot (Dichondra argentea)

Extremely drought - tolerant , dichondra is a good choice for folks who exist in hot parts of the land , where it is evergreen . In other regions , it may die back but resurface in saltation . This fast - growing plant life induce to about 5 inches marvellous at most , and it is only too happy to spill over the sides of a window box , its modest , rotund , gray - green leaves provide a tart dividing line to other greenery in the corner . Bees , butterfly , and fowl often take protection inponysfoot , which is sometimes called silver nickel vine .

15.Purple Prince Zinnia (Zinnia elegans‘Purple Prince’)

Here ’s a sun - do it plant with a stunning appearance that also serve well an important function . Zinnias attracthummingbirds , butterflies , and beneficial dirt ball like bees .

spring up as annuals in most of the United States , these zinnias are usable in many different colors , but the flowers of’Purple Prince’bring an specially vivid , middle - enamour chromaticity to your windowpane box . Think of them as elevated daisy , since they have similar hairy radical and sole flower heads . These florals wreak well in a window box with other summer - blooming annual or among perennials .

16.Euonymus (Euonymusspp.)

For those who treasure verdancy , adding euonymus to a windowpane box inject heap of intrigue . With their undimmed greenish leaves and edges that look like they ’ve been painted off - white , there ’s plenty of people of color to be had . Aseuonymusgrows , its leave-taking will bulge to spill out over the edge of thecontainer . ( To avoid surprises , be sure to opt a midget variety . )

Euonymus is partial to full sun at least 4 hour a day , but it ’s a tough industrial plant that allow less - than - ideal conditions . If you ’re take care for a low - maintenance addition to a windowpane box , this plant is an soft option .

17.Salvia (Salviaspp.)

Salvia , normally sleep with as sage , is a modest - alimony perennial that ’s hardy , long - lasting , anddrought - immune . Salvias are fascinating to look at , with small spears of vasiform - shape bloom rising above opposite leave . Depending on the variety , the flush may be red , pink , lily-white , violet , or blue .

Salvia attracts good creatures and deters the ones you do n’t want around . bee , hummingbirds , and coquette all good deal to salvia , but pests like deer and coney are not too fond of them . You ’ll find hundreds of salvia cultivar and salmagundi ; some can get quite marvelous and bushy , so consider a dwarf eccentric such as’Marcus ’ .

18.Sunset Grooves Hosta (Hosta‘Sunset Grooves’)

When you consider of hosta , you believably remember of tremendous , mounding verdure . modest variety hostas , like ‘ Sunset Grooves ’ , fit well and look slap-up in a windowpane box seat — though they might take up the integral container .

The hosta is apollinator plantthat blooms in mid- to tardy summertime . Their dramatically large leaf are thick , pucker , and rounded , and look specially lovely with droplet on their surface after a rain . Like all hostas,’Sunset Grooves’likes lots of moisture , so they might command extra watering during hot spells .

19. Common Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

hump as a thickground cover , periwinkle can also flourish in a windowpane corner . With dark greenish , glossy leaves and 2 - column inch flowers in a pinwheel frame , winkle is simple-minded and understated , yet charming . Depending on the variety , the peak may be violet , blue - purple , or bloodless .

One admonition aboutvinca : It has a wont of asphyxiate out other plants in a flower layer , so it ’s well develop by itself . A hopeful side is that it does well , even in poor soil , and it can be used as a crampoon , reaching its fashion up a low trellis or other backup to bar views or sun angle .

20.Hardy Cyclamen (Cyclamen purpurascens)

You ’re believably familiar with Cyclamen purpurascens — they’re often sold asindoor plant , but the hardy perennial variety does very well in the right out-of-door environment .

In nature , sturdy cyclamengrows in cool , humid environment , so it ’s best fit for shaded or partially shaded windows . The vivacious flowers come in tad of pink , crimson , purple , or white , but their sheer hue are almost overshadow by their interesting foliage pattern .

dauntless cyclamen needs a snatch more care than others on this lean , as it ’s sensitive to both over and under watering , but with right drainage and a regular lachrymation docket , they ’ll do just fine .

Deep purple and light green potato vines.

Photo: Diane Macdonald/Stockbyte via Getty Images

Final Thoughts

Window box are a charming style to summate American Stock Exchange appeal and semblance to your home ’s exterior . When selecting varieties for yourplanters , be sure to opt those know to do well in your area . If you ca n’t receive suitable ready - made boxes , you canDIY your own windowpane box seat fairly easily .

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

We ’ll help oneself you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your patio , a raised seam , or an in - ground plot out back — and take the correct plant for your soil and part .

Plant with bright pink leaves with lime green border.