Best Flowers for a Window Box

When It Comes to Windows, We Like Cheery and Bright

Landscaping and home gardens are popular among homeowners. But if you have limited yard space or want to add more flowers and herbs, window boxes are a charming solution.

Window boxes can enhance your home’s curb appeal and offer a lot of versatility. Plenty of flowers and herbs thrive in window boxes, not only enhancing the exterior of your home, but providing you with fresh herbs on demand.

Choosing the right window box, windows, and plants can be a challenge. Here’s everything you need to know.

How to Choose a Window Box

Materials

Your window box comes down to personal preference, but you must consider the performance of the material in your region.

• Decorative metal window boxes: These boxes are durable, but they are prone to rust and dents.
• Fiberglass window boxes: Fiberglass can be painted and doesn’t rot, but it’s expensive.
• Wood window boxes: These boxes are versatile and easy to personalize, but they can be prone to rot and insect damage.
• Terra cotta window boxes: Terra cotta boxes are widely available, but they’re only suitable for warm climates.
• Plastic window boxes: Plastic is lightweight and cheap, but it’s not as durable as other materials.

Look

The design of the window box has a big role in the beauty of the overall look and exterior of your home. You can choose your color to match your home’s color palette or the flowers you want to plan.

You can also determine the shape of the box by the window or what you intend to plan. Small, separate window boxes work well for classic, big windows, while long, separate flower boxes are perfect for several identical windows.

Be sure to design your plants well. Keep the tall plants in the back, medium plants in the middle, and cascading plants in the front. You should also choose colors for flowers that create harmony in the overall appearance.

What Types of Windows Are Suited for a Window Box?

Window boxes can be added to any windows, as long as you get the size right. You want to use smaller window boxes on small windows, larger window boxes on larger windows, etc. It is recommended that the height of the window box should be around 25% of your window’s height.

Best Flowers for a Window Box

The purpose of a window box is to plant flowers or herbs. Whether you’re using a window box for extra space or to complement your home’s aesthetic, here are the ideal flowers for both sun and shade.

Sun Flowers

All plants need sunshine, but some flowers prefer direct sunlight and tolerate drought and arid conditions, making them ideal for window boxes. Here are some sun-loving flowers for your window box.

• Marigold: Red, orange, or yellow annual or perennial flowers.
• Geranium: Pink, purple, red, or white annual, biennial, and perennial flowers.
• Petunia: White, yellow, pink, purple, blue, or red perennial flowers.
• Sweet potato vine: Ornamental vine for filling containers.
• Jasmine: Fragrant plant with yellow, pink, or pink-white flowers.

Shade Flowers

While most may think shady areas are only suitable for foliage, plenty of flowers thrive in shade and indirect sunlight. If your window boxes are in partial- or full shade, here are some flowers to consider.

• Coleus: Low-maintenance annual or perennial succulent.
• Verbena: Red or purple annual or perennial flowers, depending on species.
• Ferns: Non-flowering foliage.
• Impatiens: Red, purple, or peach annual flowers.
• Pansy: Richly colored violet, red, white, or yellow perennial flowers.
• Snapdragon: Red, yellow, pink, orange, white, or multi-colored annual or perennial flowers.

Best Herbs for Window Boxes

If you’re short on garden space but enjoy adding fresh herbs to your meals, your window box is the ideal solution. Culinary herbs are a good choice for window boxes because they tend to grow well in confined spaces, and window boxes provide excellent drainage.

Sun Herbs

Several herbs love sunlight and are well-suited for window boxes that get direct or partial sunshine. Here are some herbs for your window box.

• Lavender: Fragrant, flowering herb for medicinal and culinary purposes.
• Rosemary: Fragrant, evergreen herb with white, pink, blue, or purple flowers.
• Basil: Culinary herb used in Mediterranean cuisine.

Shade Herbs

Some herbs thrive in shade and require little sun, which is ideal for window boxes with indirect sunlight or a lot of shade. Here are some herbs to plant in your shaded window boxes.

• Parsley: Widely used flowering herb in Mediterranean cuisine.
• Tarragon: Perennial herb used for culinary and medicinal purposes.
• Mint: Fragrant, perennial culinary herb with purple, pink, or white flowers.
• Chives: Flowering plant with edible leaves and flowers.

The Importance of Window Maintenance

If you’re investing in window boxes and plants for within them, the last thing you want is poorly maintained windows. Along with serving as a foundation for your window boxes, windows are an essential part of your home. They shield you from the elements, contribute to energy savings, and protect you and your family.

Windows can suffer wear and damage from dirt, dust, and rain. Over time, they may become dirty, stained, damaged, or just worn out. Window maintenance should be an essential part of your home care routine to keep your windows – and window boxes – in the best possible condition.

Window maintenance is something you can, and should, easily do by yourself. From simple cleanings to swapping out hardware, windows are one of the easiest things to maintain yourself.

Call Bell Bros for Window Replacement

If you’re planning on installing window boxes, give them a solid foundation with a window replacement from Bell Bros! Contact us today to schedule your free estimate!