Even though winter is just around the corner, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy color and greenery in your garden or on your balcony, as long as you know which potted plants can tolerate frost. In this article, we have compiled a list of plants for you that will not only tolerate the cold weather, but will also delight your eyes during the gloomy days!
Which potted plants can tolerate frost – the low false berry
The lower false berry (Gaultheria procumbens), also known as wintergreen, is an evergreen shrub with shiny, dark green leaves and red berries, whose charm particularly unfolds in the winter months.
Since the plant originally comes from Canada, where it grows wild in the forests, you can rightly assume that it has no problems with sub-zero temperatures. In Germany, Gaultheria procumbens can only be found as a garden or balcony plant, but does not grow wild in nature. However, due to its beautiful colors, it can become the center of your seasonal decoration at the entrance to the house or on the terrace - because there is nothing that can compare to the mood that Niedere Scheinbeere can spread in winter!
To avoid even the slightest frost damage, during the coldest periods you can cover the root neck of the plant with jute or any other suitable material you have on hand. Water carefully and avoid both overwatering and overdrying. This applies not just in winter, but all year round.
There are many varieties of Gaultheria procumbens with different fruit colors on the market, but we can give you “Winter Pearls” (dark red fruits) and “White Pearl” (creamy white fruits).
Hellebore (Helleborus niger)
Which potted plants can tolerate frost? There aren't many plants that can compete with Christmas roses - also known as snow roses or hellebore - when it comes to winter tolerance. They are known for their nodding, fragrant and long-lasting flowers, blooming in white and pink even when the ground is covered in snow. The foliage of the hellebore is aesthetically pleasing with its serrated, leathery leaves.
It is important to provide your Christmas rose with well-drained and organic soil. These plants prefer shady locations but require regular watering as they are very moisture-loving.
However, it is important to know that their beautiful flowers can be treacherous for both you and your pets. The reason for this is that the leaves and roots of Christmas roses are poisonous and consuming them can lead to unpleasant consequences such as vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, a good option would be to place them in hanging pots (in a partially shaded location) to avoid such an unpleasant situation. The varieties we recommend for potting these hardy plants are:
- Helleborus niger “HGC Jacob”: This variety blooms from November to February with white flowers that reach about 20 cm high. It is suitable for semi-shady and shady locations.
- Helleborus niger "Precox": This variety is an early bloomer, so you can enjoy its flowers as early as this month, which will appear until the end of December. The white, cup-shaped flowers can grow up to 25 cm high. The variety is suitable for partially shaded locations.
Japanese skimmie (Skimmia japonica)
Which potted plants can tolerate frost? The Japanese skimmia is a hardy evergreen that produces glossy leaves, beautiful flowers and fruit all year round. It shouldn't surprise you that it is one of the most popular winter ornamental plants in Germany too.
Planted in the garden or in a pot, the Japanese skimmia can reach a height of up to 1.5 m. The plant does not like direct sunlight - it reacts to it by shrinking and discoloring the leaves. Therefore, whether you keep it outdoors or on a balcony, it is important that you provide it with a partially shaded or shady location so that it can thrive.
However, it is important to note that Japanese skimmia roots are more sensitive to frost when grown in pots. We therefore recommend that you wrap the pot with jute or any other suitable warm material you have on hand if the temperatures outside drop too much.
Another important factor is that the plant likes moisture. You should therefore never let them dry out and water them regularly. Since the skimmia grows very slowly in the pot, you should repot it a maximum of every two years.
There are a few varieties of Skimmia japonica: “Faucet“which has red flower buds,”Rubella“, a compact growing variety that produces brown-red flower buds and “White Dwarf" and "Kew White“, which have whitish-green flower buds.
Also read:Extremely hardy potted plants: 7 species that survive the winter outdoors!
