What can I plant for year-round window box displays?
Written by
Benjamin Miller
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.You can keep your home's style year-round with window box displays. Evergreens provide a constant structure, while seasonal elements bring the changing colors. This structure maintains the box's viability during winter dormancy and summer heatwaves.
Structural Evergreens
- English ivy: Trailing vines for continuous coverage
- Boxwood: Maintains shape through freezing temperatures
- Carex grass: Textural interest in all conditions
Seasonal Highlights
- Spring: Pansies and tulips for early color
- Summer: Geraniums and petunias for vibrant blooms
- Fall: Ornamental kale and chrysanthemums for rich tones
Year-Round Performers
- Heuchera: Colorful foliage that changes with seasons
- Ajuga: Bronze-purple leaves persisting through winter
- Sedum: Drought-resistant texture for hot months
Integrate permanent anchors and seasonal accents to enjoy continuous delight. Use ivy or boxwood as your base plants throughout the year. In March, tuck in pansies. Come summer heat, replace them with geraniums. Add in ornamental kale as temperatures cool for fall.
Forbears display based on temperature changes. Water evergreens once a month while dormant in winter. Prune summer bloomers late, after the first hard frost has passed. Topsoil should be replenished with nutrients on a regular basis, ideally every season, mulch to protect the roots during freezing temperatures.
Considerations in design will add visual interest throughout the different seasons. Place winter evergreens at the front of the planting area for visibility. Opt for warm colors, such as a red geranium, to create a lively summer feel within the same planting area. Use purple kale in the fall for a compelling contrast against the background of winter evergreens.
Be bold in your combinations that match your environment. Experiment with varieties such as Heuchera for color contrast against spring-flowering bulbs. Introduce any grass, such as carex, into summer combinations with annuals and perennials for a different textured dimension. You will figure out what works well in your particular situation through experience.
Read the full article: Ultimate Guide to Window Box Plants
