Window boxes allow you to grow various plants, from herbs and vegetables to stunning flowers that will brighten up your windowsill throughout the season. If you are wondering about what to display, read on to discover the best flowers for window boxes.
Window box flowers add a touch of beauty and charm to any home or apartment. These miniature gardens offer an opportunity to showcase your creativity and enhance the exterior of your living space. Whether you have a green thumb or are new to gardening, window box flowers are an accessible and rewarding way to bring color and life to your windowsills.
In this article, we explore the different types of plants that thrive in window boxes, the best flowers to plant in window boxes, tips for creating a stunning floral display, and suggestions for window box flower arrangements. Consult the FAQs section to learn more.
There are five types of plants to grow in a window box: annuals, perennials, trailing plants, succulents, and herbs. This section describes each type and gives suitable examples for window boxes.
Annuals
Annual plants complete their life cycle in a single growing season, typically from seed to maturity, flowering, and seed production, all within one year. Examples of common annual plants for window boxes include marigolds, zinnias, petunias, impatiens, pansies, and celosia.
Annuals are the easiest type of flower to cultivate in a window box. They require little maintenance and can provide vibrant color throughout the growing season. However, you must replant them year after year from seed.
Perennials
Perennial plants live for over two years and survive multiple growing seasons. They typically grow from a root system that remains alive and sends up new growth each year, often with a period of dormancy during the winter months. Unlike annual plants, perennial plants continue to grow and produce new leaves, stems, and flowers each year, often becoming larger and more robust with time. As such, perennials planted in window boxes require low maintenance.
Examples of common perennial plants for window boxes include dwarf evergreens, such as dwarf Alberta spruce or boxwood, stonecrop (sedum), coral bells (heuchera), hostas, creeping jenny (lysimachia), geraniums, and daylilies.
Trailing plants
Trailing plants are plants with stems or leaves that grow horizontally or downward, often cascading over the edge of a container or hanging basket. They add texture, dimension, and visual interest to a window box.
Examples of trailing plants for window boxes include trailing petunias, sweet potato vine, English ivy, creeping jenny, trailing succulents like a string of pearls or burro’s tail, creeping phlox, and creeping thyme.
Succulents
Succulents are a group of plants that have adapted to survive in arid or semi-arid environments by storing water in their leaves, stems, or roots. They are known for their fleshy, often thick and waxy leaves, which give them a distinctive appearance. Succulents are fantastic choices for window boxes that receive sparse watering since they tolerate drought well.
Examples of succulents for window boxes include cacti, aloe, echeveria, jade plants, snake plants, and agave.
Herbs
Herbs are plants grown for culinary, medicinal, or aromatic purposes. Many herbs are well-suited for growing in a window garden because they don’t require a lot of space and can thrive in containers. Additionally, certain herbs like basil are natural repellants for pests such as mosquitoes.
Examples of herbs for window boxes include basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary, mint, chives, and cilantro.
Some of the best flowers to plant in window boxes are Busy Lizzie (Impatiens), Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides), Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana), Petunia (Petunia x atkinsiana), Marigold (Tagetes), Celosia (Celosia), Zinnia (Zinnia elegans), Begonia (Begonia), Lavender (Lavandula), and Nasturtium (Tropaeolum). Discover more information about each of these flowers, including their hardiness zone, color varieties, sun exposure and soil requirements, bloom time, and what they attract.
1. Busy Lizzie (Impatiens)
Busy Lizzies are a popular choice for window boxes due to their vibrant, colorful blooms and shade-loving nature. They are low-maintenance, grow 6-30 inches tall, and do not need much fertilization or pruning, making them a great option for novice gardeners. There are many impatiens varieties, including Bounce Violet, Spreading Shell Pink, and Bounce Pink Flame.
Impatiens are known for their ability to self-seed, meaning that they will often drop their own seeds and come back year after year without much effort from the gardener. This essential aspect makes them a great long-term investment for window boxes and other container gardens.
On the downside, impatiens are susceptible to downy mildew, a fungal disease that can cause the leaves to turn yellow and the plant to die off. To prevent this, it’s important to space out the plants in the window box to encourage good air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and remove any infected plants as soon as possible.
2. Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides)
Coleus is a lovely choice for window boxes due to its colorful and unique foliage. Unlike most flowering plants, coleus is grown for its leaves rather than its blooms. The leaves often have interesting patterns and textures.
Coleus is a tropical plant that prefers warm temperatures and grows 1-3 feet high. It benefits from regular fertilization and pruning to encourage bushy growth and prevent legginess. It is possible to propagate this plant from cuttings, which is excellent for a long-term investment. When adding coleus to a window box, combine it with other flowering plants for a more traditional look, or use it on its own for a more modern and contemporary feel.
3. Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana)
Pansies are one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, so they will add color to your window boxes when other plants are still dormant. These plants are cold-tolerant and can survive a light frost, making them a good choice for early and late-season window boxes.
Pansies are relatively compact plants, spreading 9-12 inches and growing 6-9 inches tall, so they are a fine choice for smaller window boxes. A fun fact is that pansy flowers are edible and practical for coloring and flavoring salads, desserts, and other dishes.
4. Petunia (Petunia x atkinsiana)
Petunias are beautiful flowers for window boxes since they produce abundant blooms and have a long blooming season, so you will be able to enjoy their bright colors from spring until fall. There are many petunia varieties, such as Limelight, Cascadias Rim Magenta, and Fortunia Early Blue Vein.
The petunia plant is low-maintenance and easy to grow, especially since it tolerates both heat and drought. It is versatile since it comes in a range of sizes and shapes, from compact to trailing varieties, making them suitable for a range of window box styles. Expect petunias to grow 6-18 inches high and 18 inches – 4 feet wide.
5. Marigold (Tagetes)
Marigolds are a popular choice for window boxes due to their bright, cheerful blooms and ease of care; they are relatively drought-tolerant once established. Deadheading (removing spent blooms) will encourage the plant to continue blooming throughout the season.
There are two main types of marigolds: French marigolds and African marigolds. French marigolds are smaller, usually growing to about 6-12 inches in height. African marigolds are larger, often growing to 1-3 feet tall. Although they are often used as border plants, African marigolds can also be planted in window boxes for a bold, eye-catching display.
6. Celosia (Celosia)
Celosia is a unique and striking choice for window boxes. It is a tropical plant grown for its unusual flower spikes, which resemble a rooster’s comb. The flowers can be found in single and double bloom varieties.
Caring for a window box with celosia is quite easy, as it requires little pruning and deadheading. The plant is drought-tolerant once established, but it benefits from regular watering during periods of dry weather. Regular fertilization encourages healthy growth and blooming.
One of the benefits of celosia is its long bloom time. The flowers last for several weeks or even months, providing a continuous source of color and interest in your window boxes.
7. Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
Zinnias are excellent for window boxes since they provide a burst of color and attract pollinators to your garden. They come in various sizes, ranging from small, compact plants (6-12 inches) to tall, branching varieties (4 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide).
Zinnias are pretty easy to grow, need minimal maintenance, and tolerate dry conditions well. The long stems of zinnias make them ideal for cutting, and the blooms will continue to open and look beautiful in a window box for several days. There are many zinnia varieties, including Orange Sprite, Gold Braid, and Irish Eyes.
8. Begonia (Begonia)
