18 of the best window box flowers & when to plant them

Written by Hannah Kingston on August 31, 2021

18 of the best window box flowers

1. Begonias
2. Nasturtiums 
3. Coleus
4. Geraniums 
5. Licorice plant
6. Sweet potato vine 
7. Creeping Jenny
8. Petunias 
9. Zinnias
10. Dusty miller
11. Snap dragon 
12. Euonymus 
13. Variegated ivy 
14. Ornamental grass 
15. Fuchsia
16. Impatiens 
17. Verbena
18. Cyclamens 

Begonias

• Level of maintenance: Moderate
• When to plant: Plant in winter and early spring 
• Preferred weather conditions: Mild temperatures and partial shade
• Goes well with: Alyssum and lobelia

Nasturtiums 

• Level of maintenance: Low
• When to plant: Spring to early autumn
• Preferred weather conditions: Sunny areas
• Goes well with: Kale, pumpkins, brocolli

Coleus

• Level of maintenance: Low
• When to plant: Spring and summer
• Preferred weather conditions: Warm temperatures and partial shade
• Goes well with: Fuscia, fern, begonia 

Geraniums 

• Level of maintenance: Moderate
• When to plant: Summer
• Preferred weather conditions: Cool temperatures and partial shade 
• Goes well with: Asparagus fern

Licorice plant

• Level of maintenance: Low
• When to plant: Spring or summer
• Preferred weather conditions: Moderate temperatures of 15-30 degrees
• Goes well with: Celosia cockscomb

Sweet potato vine 

• Level of maintenance: Low
• When to plant: Spring
• Preferred weather conditions: Hot, sunny weather 
• Goes well with: Coleus, cordyline and geranium

Creeping Jenny

• Level of maintenance: Low 
• When to plant: Early spring
• Preferred weather conditions: Will tolerate full sun or full shade 
• Goes well with: Any vibrant standing plants work well with creeping Jenny

Petunias 

• Level of maintenance: High 
• When to plant: Spring
• Preferred weather conditions: Warm and sunny
• Goes well with: Snapdragons, iris 

Zinnias

• Level of maintenance: Low
• When to plant: Spring
• Preferred weather conditions: Warm and sunny 
• Goes well with: Dahlia, toothpick weed

Dusty miller

• Level of maintenance: Low
• When to plant: Spring
• Preferred weather conditions: Can tolerate most weather conditions 
• Goes well with: Begonia, eucalyptus

Snap dragon 

• Level of maintenance: Low
• When to plant: Winter, late spring
• Preferred weather conditions: Moderate temperatures, sunny spot
• Goes well with: Hosta, brunnera

Euonymus 

• Level of maintenance: Low
• When to plant: March to October
• Preferred weather conditions: Dry, temperate, shade
• Goes well with: Juniper, spirea

Variegated ivy

• Level of maintenance: Low
• When to plant: Spring or fall
• Preferred weather conditions: Dry, cold and sunny conditions 
• Goes well with: Plant on its own

Ornamental grass 

• Level of maintenance: Low
• When to plant: Spring
• Preferred weather conditions: Cool and temperate  
• Goes well with: Persicaria ‘Dikke Floskes’, Sanguisorba ‘Blackthorn’

Fuchsia

• Level of maintenance: Low
• When to plant: Autumn and spring 
• Preferred weather conditions: Temperate, sunny and shade
• Goes well with: Impatiens, nasturtiums

Impatiens 

• Level of maintenance: Moderate
• When to plant: Spring
• Preferred weather conditions: Moderate temperatures and shade  
• Goes well with: Sweet potato vine, coelus 

Verbena

• Level of maintenance: Low
• When to plant: Spring
• Preferred weather conditions: Sun in cooler regions, shade in warm places 
• Goes well with: Japanese anemone, ornamental grass

Cyclamens 

• Level of maintenance: Moderate
• When to plant: Autumn, winter
• Preferred weather conditions: Moderate temperatures, sun and shade
• Goes well with: Snowdrops, primrose

Tips for starting your window box flower project 

1. Map out the space 

It’s important to remember that window box flowers grow outwards and the window box they are growing in tends to get heavier over time as more soil and water is added. Ensure that your window ledges are sturdy enough and invest in a box bracket to keep the window boxes in place.

2. Think about the colours

What colours best match the personality and style of your home? Put time into thinking about this as your window box flowers will be the first thing you see when you get home from work. A little extra thought could go a long way. What colours best match your personality and the mood you would like to create? 

3. Match your maintenance to your availability 

When it comes to being a plant mom or dad, our downfall is often rooted in the fact that we take on too much too soon. If you don’t envisage yourself having a lot of time to care for your plants, go for the easy to mind variety that don’t require too much watering or pruning. Hardier varieties that can cope no matter what the climate work best for busy bees. 

4. Remember that variety is the spice of life 

Remember that variety is the spice of life! The more plants you include in your window box, the better it will look. Include vibrant flowers to command attention as well as “spiller” plants that will grow over the sides of the window box. Always double check the best soil varieties and weather conditions to match the flowers you are planting. 

What are the best flower delivery services in the United States?

At TopFlowerDelivery, we put in the research so you don’t have to!

Here are our top 10 flower delivery services:

• Best Overall: 1800Flowers
• Best for Any Occasion: JustFlowers.com
• Best for Subscription: BloomsyBox
• Best for Supporting Local Florists: Florists.com
• Flowers Fast - FTD Top 100 Member Florist
• Best for DIYers: Enjoy Flowers
• Best for Same-Day Delivery Services: Teleflora
• Best for Simplicity: Fresh Cut Flower of the Month Club by MonthlyClubs
• Best with Free Shipping (& Free Vase): Overnight Flowers
• Best for Plants: Lively Root
• Best for Succulents: Plants.com
• Best for Roses: Ode à la Rose

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