Can anyone suggest

[EsmeraldaX]

a good, sturdy plant for a window box? I want to put a few in our window box outside, but they need to be hardy enough to withstand the fall weather, and preferably not something that will attract a lot of bees (I'm allergic).

Any suggestions? I'm new to plants but I'd really love to add some green to our window box (which is currently empty).

Thanks!

 

[Margie J]

My window boxes are filled with snapdragons and dianthus (a small carnation) this year. I've had snapdragons for four years now. They reseed themselves, sprout in early spring and have flowers often until November (they were originally grown in Canada so maybe that's why they tolerate the cold, ). Both plants don't get overly large and seem to resist our crazy weather here.

I do get bees though and the infamous squirrels love to snack on my dianthus.

Every unit at our condo has window boxes and I see a variety of plants. Many people have impatients, petunias and marigolds.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by Margie J
My window boxes are filled with snapdragons and dianthus (a small carnation) this year. I've had snapdragons for four years now. They reseed themselves, sprout in early spring and have flowers often until November (they were originally grown in Canada so maybe that's why they tolerate the cold, ). Both plants don't get overly large and seem to resist our crazy weather here.

I do get bees though and the infamous squirrels love to snack on my dianthus.

Every unit at our condo has window boxes and I see a variety of plants. Many people have impatients, petunias and marigolds.

Thank you for the ideas. I will look into those when I go plant shopping this weekend.

 

[stacilee]

How about a sweet potato vine? it is ornamental- you won't really be growing sweet potatoes... They are so pretty and colorful you don't have to plant "flowers" with it if you don't want to. It also looks nice with some colorful ornamental grasses as it's backdrop. Even just a few "spikes".

they are available is 3 colors and are really beautiful even if alone because of the way they trail.
The colors are BRILLIANT green (think disboard lime)- I think this one is called Marguerite
a verigated green/ white or Green/pale purple and "blackie", which is a deep deep purple- almost back. they last until the frost.they grow really fast kind of mound up and spill forward. They need no tending whatsoever and are really pleasing to look at. In fact, here in the south you see it everywhere because it is so easy to grow. It is often incorporated into the landscape design of office buildings and apartment complexes because it can be planted and then forgotten until it dies back.

I see that you are in The north east. If they are sheltered by the warmth of the house (building), especially on a sunny side, they may last longer into the autumn season if you cover them with a lightweight cloth on really cold nights when a frost is expected.

 

[Margie J]

FYI

I got my snapdragons at Calareso's Farm Stand this summer. Last I looked they did have some a couple weeks ago plus plenty of other plants for Fall. They are located at 122 Main Street (Rt. 28) in Reading MA, 781-944-6010, just off 128 near the cloverleaf with 93.

The dianthus and petunias I bought at Shaw's, surprizingly.

All my other plants come from Home Depot. Those include Salvia, Ageratum, Wave Petunias and Celosia. HD stocks by season and I saw plenty of mums and marigolds on my last trip.

Eric's Greenhouse at 1090 Main Street in Reading (781-944-0547) always has a nice selection of plants, garden tools, soils, seeds and fresh flowers.

 

[chessie]

If you are looking for something for now, try pansies. I planted them in a large pot last fall and put them where I could look out and see them on my deck. They bloomed well into the winter. a few didn't make it but they were blooming again very early in the spring. Since we had a cool summer, they lasted much longer then usual. Pansies like cool weather. Once the hot summer hits they are gone.

 

[DebºoºS]

I'm partial to mums for fall. I trim the window box mums until August for fall color. I also have marigolds, dianthus,petunias and blue bunny grass in there. Sounds awful but it looks good.

 

[marydmjj]

I love planting window boxes with seasonal things. So for fall I would use pansies and then add evergreen and holly branches in the winter. Spring and summer I love wave petunias, bacopa, sweet potato vine and geraniums to name a few.

 

[Crankyshank]

I'm allergic to bees, wasps, and yellow jackets, so I understand you're hesitation to get anything too bee friendly.

I love snap dragons- they do really well in window boxes. My mother has some gorgeous petunias she just planted in hers. She got them from Briggs nursery and from Shaws. The Shaws version are actually doing better than the more expensive ones