What Flowers Are Best for a Flower Box?

A window box not only decorates the exterior of a home, it changes the prognosis from indoors, softening cityscapes and establishing a connection from the built environment to the growing one. A window box about the inside of a window may also provide purpose for a gardener that, because of age or disability, can not get into the garden anymore. Consider the location and ecological requirements of the own window box when selecting flowers to fill it.

Flower Box Facts

Plants in window boxes, like those in almost any container garden, are subject to more dryness and heat compared to plants at the garden. Rather than using mature plants that have grown up and therefore adapted to existence in the greenhouse or on a sheltered sale bench, purchase nursery packs of young plants that will adapt right for their window box and endure less transplant shock. Plants such as fuschia and impatiens (Impatiens wallerana) benefit in the shady exposure and daily watering to maintain their soil moist and cool. Others, such as creeping zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens), French marigold (Tagetes patula) and petunias thrive in spite of the dryness and heat of a sunny window ledge.

Perennials

Although planting a tree or even deep-rooted tree at a window box might necessitate more dirt than a box or its settings could safely hold, there are lots of smaller perennials that could grow comfortably in a window box. Miniature roses or dwarf varieties such as the compact little variegated weigela, “My Monet” (Weigelia florida “My Monet”), can supply anchors for backyard boxes. Plants grown as annuals in other areas, such as geraniums (Pelagonium spp.) Are really tender perennials at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10 and could be grown as perennials, provided they are given protection against frost and, as with other perennials, are pruned to maintain the plants compact. Dwarf asters (Eurybia mirabilis) blossom in late summer through fall and petunia milliflora are short perennials above zone 7.

Annuals

Annual flowers are a good selection for window boxes because they blossom continually through the season — and they’re readily available in nursery packs across the spring. Moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora) and verbena (Verbena x hybrida) blossom in a huge array of colors. Creeping zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens), trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis) and ivy-leafed geranium (Pelargonium peltatum) trail above the edges of sunny window poles. Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) fill in shady window boxes filled with large tuberous begonias (Begonia x tuberhybrida) or impatiens. Dwarf zinnias and marigolds will bloom throughout the season.

Other Choices

Some plants developed primarily for leaf also produce blooms; coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides), as an example, sets up spikes of tiny blue flowers. Most herbs produce blooms — combine them in a fresh kitchen garden window box. Rosemary (Rosemarinus officianalis), mints (Mentha spicata hybrids) and catmint (Nepeta X faassenii) all produce blue to blue-lavender flowers. Ornamental oregano (Origanum laevigatum) along with silver thyme (Thymus vulgaris) sport purple to purple blossoms. Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) creates little white daisy-like flowers

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