Unfortunately, the balcony at home is not suitable for every plant to survive the winter unscathed. In order for you to be able to enjoy strong and healthy potted plants next year, they must be sufficiently hardy. Here you can find out which species are the most resistant to the cold as balcony plants, so that they can stay outside during the cold season without any problems.

Hardiness zones in Germany

Many plant lovers ask themselves whether a balcony plant has sufficient winter hardiness. Most of Germany belongs to climate zone 7. This means average low temperatures of around minus 12 to minus 17 degrees Celsius in winter, and significantly colder in mountainous regions. Only in wine-growing regions is it not quite as frosty.

Notice: It can be warmer in a sheltered location, and significantly colder in drafty places.

Extremely hardy potted plants

When selecting perennials, it is important to note that many species are not very sensitive to frost, but retreat to the underground parts of the plant in autumn. They stay there until spring. Others keep their foliage or even bloom in winter, making them an eye-catcher on the balcony. Not all varieties of a plant are also extremely hardy. We have therefore listed a selection of the most robust varieties that can easily withstand temperatures of at least minus 25 degrees.

Bellflower (Campanula)

Campanula portenschlagiana

With its colorful flowers, the bluebell is a valuable garden perennial. Their trademark are the star-shaped flowers, which bloom from spring to autumn, depending on the type and variety. The bellflower is also good as a balcony plant. In order for the Campanula to survive the winter as a container plant undamaged, it is important to choose the right variety.

  • Substrate: normal, humus-rich garden soil
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata)
  • Carpathian bellflower (Campanula carpatica)
  • Peach-leaved Bellflower (Campanula persicifolia)

Carnation (Dianthus)

Dianthus deltoides

Carnations have almost fallen into oblivion. And that's completely wrong, because the grey-blue or green leafy plants are very easy to care for. And not only in the garden bed, but also as a balcony plant. In summer they tolerate heat and drought. Many types of carnation, including the robust Carthusian pink, are also extremely hardy at temperatures as low as minus 35 degrees Celsius.

  • Substrate: well-drained, sandy, calcareous (Heidenelke: acidic)
  • Location: the sunnier, the better
  • Whitsun carnation (Dianthus gratianopolitanus)
  • Heather Pink (Dianthus deltoides)
  • Plumeria (Dianthus plumaris)

Purple Bells (Heuchera)

Heuchera sp.

Instead of opulent flowers, the purple bells captivates with its beautifully colored foliage. From bluish silver to dark red to various shades of yellow and green, everything is included. Another advantage: Due to its excellent winter hardiness, the Heuchera decorates the balcony with bright splashes of color even when the temperature is below zero.

  • Growth height: 20 to 70 cm
  • Substrate: rich in nutrients and well drained
  • Location: depends on the variety

Cranesbill (Geranium)

Geranium wallichianum

It is robust, extremely adaptable and green almost all year round. Hardly any ornamental garden can do without the popular perennial bloomer. And also as a charming container plant, the numerous breeds of cranesbills have proven to be very robust and easy to care for.

  • Substrate: humic, nutritious, moderately moist
  • Location: depending on the variety from full sun to shade
  • Oxford Cranesbill 'Rebecca Moss'
  • Double Himalayan Cranesbill (Geranium himalayense 'Plenum')
  • Balkan cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum)

Evergreen, hardy potted plants

Many a plant lover is looking for a plant that is well suited as a balcony plant, is extremely hardy and at the same time looks very decorative during the cold season. Basically, unusual or even exotic-looking plants come into their own as a balcony plant than in the garden. This includes variegated or richly flowering plant species as well as topiaries.

Tip: So that you can successfully cultivate trees as balcony plants, you should use small species and varieties.

Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

The evergreen mountain laurel, also called laurel rose, impresses not only with its enchanting blooms, but also with its extreme winter hardiness. The shrub, which is up to two meters high, originally comes from eastern North America and grows very slowly into a broad bush.

  • Substrate: fresh to moist, strongly acidic to neutral
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • protected from strong midday sun and cold wind

Firethorn (Pyracantha)

The firethorn is certainly one of the most beautiful native decorative fruit trees. The thorn bush can be cultivated not only as an impenetrable hedge, but also as a hardy container plant on a balcony. And you don't even need a green thumb. In autumn it bears bright red or orange fruits that remain on the bush throughout the winter, bringing some color to the dreary gray of winter.

  • Substrate: permeable to water, rather dry, loamy
  • Location: as sunny as possible, sheltered from the wind
  • Mediterranean varieties are somewhat sensitive to frost
  • Varieties: Dwarf firethorn 'Anatolia', 'Golden Charmer', 'Red Column'

Japanese Spindle (Euonymus japonicus)

Because of its small, often colorfully variegated leaves and dense, squat growth, the Japanese spindle is becoming increasingly popular - recently also as a container plant on the balcony. And rightly so, because it is very easy to care for and keeps its attractive foliage even in the cold season.

  • Substrate: undemanding, fresh to nutritious
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Varieties: 'Hees Pierrolino', 'President Gauthier'

Gaultheria procumbens

Also known as carpet berry, red partridge berry, or wintergreen, checkerberry is native to the Northeastern United States and Canada, where it is accustomed to cold winters. It is a low-growing ground cover and produces white or pink bell-shaped flowers in July and August. A real eye-catcher, however, are the red capsule fruits, which look very similar to berries.

  • Substrate: humic, acidic
  • Location: partially shaded to light shade
  • almost all varieties are very hardy

Deciduous trees and shrubs

Most deciduous trees lose their leaves in autumn after they have once again shone in their full beauty with their colorful autumn foliage. But not all trees and shrubs are also suitable for planting on terraces and balconies. We have therefore selected a few very hardy and also small species that also thrive perfectly as container plants.

Fragrant lilac (Syringa meyeri)

The fragrant lilac can be described in just a few words: rich flowering, frost hardy, easy to care for, ideal for the tub. The popular ornamental tree is characterized by its filigree foliage and its wonderfully fragrant flowers. The small, panicle-shaped flowers unfold from ruby red buds, changing color to a dark violet on opening and finally fading into a distinctive pink.

  • Substrate: well-drained, humic, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Varieties: 'Palibin', 'Josee', 'Red Pixie'

Black elder / lilac berry (Sambucus nigra)

Everyone knows the native elderberry bush, a typical wild tree that often occurs at the edge of the forest or road. In spring it shows its white flowers and in autumn the elderberries develop. The great thing about the elder: Even as a container plant on the balcony, it is very undemanding, resilient and hardy. Both flowers and fruits are versatile in the kitchen.

  • Substrate: nutrient-rich, normal garden soil
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • almost all varieties are extremely hardy
  • Black elder 'Black Beauty' (dark red-brown foliage)

Swamp Oak (Quercus palustris)

An absolute rarity in the garden scene is the swamp oak, also known as the Spree oak. The extraordinary tree is one of the smaller representatives of its genus, growing only about 1.5 meters high and is therefore ideal as a balcony plant. The spherical swamp oak also impresses in autumn with the scarlet coloring of its leaves.

  • Substrate: fresh and nutritious, acidic to neutral
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • special varieties: 'Green Dwarf' and 'Isabel'

Dwarf ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

The ginkgo occupies a special position in the plant kingdom, because it is neither a deciduous tree nor a coniferous tree, but belongs to the naked-seeded cycads. Around 150 million years ago, ginkgo trees were common in the forests of the northern hemisphere. Today the plants are only found in China, Japan and Korea. With the ginkgo you get a real dinosaur among the plants on the balcony. And the container plant is just as robust in the face of cold.

  • Substrate: nutritious, sandy, humic
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • short varieties: 'Troll', 'Salve'

Winterize potted plants

All listed potted plants are completely hardy in a sheltered spot outdoors down to freezing temperatures of below minus 25 degrees. However, that doesn't mean they don't need winter protection in a pot on the balcony. This already begins during the vegetation phase with an adequate supply of nutrients. Carnations, firethorn and co. not only thrive better, but also develop the necessary defenses to survive the cold months unscathed.

  • during the growth phase: liquid fertilizer or fertilizer sticks
  • in August: special potassium fertilizer
  • do not fertilize after September

winter protection

During long periods of frost, you should play it safe and protect the roots from freezing. In addition, the leaves of evergreen plants can dry out in strong sunlight and strong winds. Therefore, the plants should not be exposed to the blazing sun in winter.

  • Styrofoam pad
  • Cover the pot with fleece, bubble wrap or coconut mat
  • alternatively: large cachepot with straw (at least 10 cm layer on all sides)
  • cover the top with straw or leaves
  • possibly attach a shade net

Notice: Don't forget to water your hardy potted plants on frost-free days. In fact, more plants die of thirst in winter than they freeze to death.

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