The best flowers for containers are those that are visually appealing over time and can survive the cold months without requiring special care. Using hardy plants in container gardening allows you to enjoy a show from one summer to the next without having to purchase new plants each time.
Many hardy flowers for containers are also easy to propagate, so you can easily renew your containers for next summer or expand your display at no additional cost by simply reusing your most successful plant combinations.
Hardy flowers for containers: autumn crocuses
This species puts out leaves in spring and loses them again in summer. Light purple flowers with purple veins are a special feature of this species. In autumn, the plants produce 7 to 15 cm high flower stalks that are decorated with the classic cup-shaped, violet-blue to purple crocus flowers. Autumn crocuses grow quickly in containers and are a good choice for your patio or balcony. Their flowering period extends from late summer to late autumn.
The ethereal beauty of the crocus blossom in autumn is incomparable. Various species bloom in the garden or in containers in September and October. Saffron crocus (Crocus sativus), beautiful crocus (A beautiful crocus) and the Transylvanian autumn crocus (Crocus banaticus) are examples of autumn crocuses.
Autumn crocuses are perennial plants that sprout from tubers and bloom in the fall. These plants are found in a variety of forests, bushes and meadows from North Africa and the Middle East through southern and central Europe to Asia and China. They have grass-like leaves. Flowers appear first on autumn crocuses, followed by leaves. Fall crocuses thrive in full sun or partial shade and like gritty, well-drained soil. Gravel can be useful for lightening heavy soils and improving drainage. Although most crocus species reliably produce new plants from tubers, a few are very suitable for sowing from seeds.
The most beautiful autumn flowers for balconies and terraces – autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
The autumn crocus is a popular plant that is native to moist hay meadows, forest edges and clearings. It blooms in September with pink, crocus-like flowers, but actually belongs to the family Colchicaceae and is not a crocus. All parts of the plant are deadly, but especially the leaves, which bloom in spring and are sometimes confused with wild garlic. Because the poisonous leaves fall off before the hay is harvested, these can be foundwonderful planton natural meadows.
Cushion aster (Aster dumosus)
Would you like your patio to get some color this fall? The solution lies in asters. These beautiful and hardy flowers are commonly used in German pollinator and container gardens. You can fill your garden and balcony with animals and bright colors from summer to autumn by planting just one or a few of the hundreds of species in this genus and plant family.
A fall container garden isn't complete without cushion asters - they belong to a genus of plants with stunning star-shaped flowers. One of the few plants that bloom reliably in the cold season is the cushion aster. This means the flowering period can last much longer in spring and summer.
These plants require minimal attention and produce lots of blooms without you having to do any extra work.PlantBring these colorful flowers to your garden this fall for instant color and attract a swarm of pollinators to your garden for years to come.
The suneye (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra) – beauty for autumn
Despite their beauty, the suneyes (Helianthus helianthoides var. scabra) have been neglected in recent years. Their daisy-like, bright yellow flowers seemed to be in keeping with the current pastel trendBorders and containersseems out of place, but that could soon change. This is a plant known for its colorful leaves. Plant them in full sun and medium humidity. Divide crowded clumps every three to five years.
Also interesting:Easy-care flowers for the balcony that everyone can keep alive
Hardy flowers for containers – wild pansies (Viola tricolor)
Depending on the location, the wild pansy is a short-lived, perennial plant. It can reach a height of 10 to 40 cm. The stems are bare and erect, their color ranging from whitish to a deep purple. The leaves may be simple, compound, or compound-lobed, but are never divided into leaflets. The wild pansy can wilt easily in the heat of mid-summer, so it's best to keep them in a cooler location. In hotter climates we recommend partial shade. These flowers can grow in many different types of soil. Give the plants an all-purpose fertilizer when planting and once a month thereafter.
Once flowers are established, you can leave them alone and they should continue to thrive. The soil must be moist but not soggy. Water once a week or twice a week in dry conditions. To promote stronger blooms and a longer flowering period, remove spent flowers. This also contributes tothat the plantretains its original and beautiful appearance.
Also read:Balcony plants for the winter: Lists of suitable plants & ideas for arrangements in boxes or pots
