Creatively Designed Window Box Concepts for Blooming Flowers and Culinary Herbs
In the heart of spring, it's time to breathe new life into your window boxes. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these low-maintenance, sun-loving plants are perfect for creating a vibrant display that requires minimal effort.
Leafy greens like lettuce are compatible with window boxes, especially when grown as cut-and-come-again or baby leaves. To keep pests at bay, consider companion planting with herbs or marigolds, and use insecticidal soap if necessary.
For a romantic display, allow trailing flowers, such as ivy geraniums, to spill out over the side of your window boxes. If you're after a rich jewel-box of colours, plant purple angelonia, fan flower (scaevola), pink mandevilla, dusty miller, and English ivy.
If you prefer a simpler approach, planting a window box with only lavender is an effective choice. Not only does it provide an inviting scent, but it also attracts bees and butterflies. Dwarf varieties of lavender are best for window boxes, as they will require less effort to keep to a manageable size. English lavender copes better with a cold winter than French or Spanish varieties.
For those looking for a pop of colour, annual Vinca (Catharanthus roseus) thrives in full sun to part shade and blooms all summer with colours like pink, red, and white. It does not require deadheading. Wax Begonias (Begonia semperflorens-cultorum) can grow in sun or shade and prefer well-draining soil. They are low maintenance with no deadheading required. Both are perennial in zones 9-11 but usually grown as annuals.
Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) is a succulent suited for full sun and drought-tolerant. It is ideal for rock or stone containers and hardy in zones 3-8. Lantana (Lantana camara) is sun-loving, attracts butterflies, and can be grown as an annual outside zones 9-11. It grows 2-4 feet tall and is suitable for containers.
For those seeking even more options, Cordyline and Grevillea are recommended for sunny, low-water, and low-care conditions. These plants generally tolerate heat, require well-draining soil, and do not demand frequent deadheading or pruning.
Melanie Griffiths, an experienced gardener and homes and gardens media professional with over 20 years of experience, has spent the last few years transforming her own garden. She recommends herbs such as basil, chives, cilantro, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme for window boxes.
So, get ready to transform your window boxes this spring with these easy-care, sun-loving plants. Whether you're after a burst of colour, a romantic display, or a simple scent, there's a plant for every taste. Happy gardening!
[1] RHS (2021) Catharanthus roseus. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/29384/Catharanthus-roseus/details
[2] RHS (2021) Begonia semperflorens-cultorum. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/24057/Begonia-semperflorens-cultorum/details
[3] RHS (2021) Sempervivum tectorum. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/13693/Sempervivum-tectorum/details
[4] RHS (2021) Lantana camara. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/24060/Lantana-camara/details
[5] RHS (2021) Cordyline. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/10519/Cordyline/details
[5] RHS (2021) Grevillea. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/10614/Grevillea/details
- For a home-and-garden makeover, consider adding Lantana (Lantana camara), a sun-loving plant that attracts butterflies and thrives in containers, to your window boxes.
- If you're looking to incorporate herbs into your lifestyle, basil, chives, cilantro, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme are all recommended for window boxes by Melanie Griffiths, an experienced gardener in the field of homes and gardens.
