What winter flowers thrive in window boxes?

Winter window boxes are a great way to add color and texture to your space throughout the winter with many hardy flowers and foliage. Ornamental kale has wonderful purple rosettes that are frost-resistant. Winterberry holly has striking, bright-red berries. Boxwood evergreen is a great structure that holds through freezing temperatures for seasons of beauty.

Design strategies enhance the visual effect in winter, orange berry-producing winterberry pairs nicely with feathery carex grass to add height and depth. A Schisandra oil plant in a terra cotta pot adds a touch of seasonality. Purple kale framed with evergreen boxwood sprigs brightens up the backdrop. Coupling the greenery with curly willow branches creates a vertical transition in color and texture. Arrangements make dimensional displays against the snow.

Cold-weather care ensures plants will survive. Water the soil whenever it thaws and the temperature exceeds 40°F (4°C). Anti-desiccant sprays can be applied to broadleaf evergreens. Mulch can be placed around pots to insulate roots. Avoid pruning during deep freezes.

Container preparation prevents damage to containers over the winter. Use thick-walled fiberglass or wooden boxes that can withstand freeze-thaw cycles. Prop planters up on pot feet to keep them off the surface and provide drainage. During extreme cold snaps, wrap the most susceptible containers in burlap to serve as insulation.

Transition planning connects seasons smoothly. Underplant winter kale with spring bulbs, such as tulips. Nestle pansy seedlings beneath protective evergreens. This ensures seamless floral succession as temperatures warm.

Read the full article: Ultimate Guide to Window Box Plants