Cold-resistant plants – winter balcony

Your balcony or terrace shouldn’t be empty for six months of the year. These plants withstand cold, frost, and winter weather while staying beautiful all year round. Climbers, shrubs, fruit trees, and perennials: all are suitable for pots and adapted to urban living.

Hardy climbers: dressing walls all year round

Clematis can tolerate temperatures down to -25°C and offer spectacular blooms in spring or summer depending on the variety. Wisteria withstands harsh winters and rewards patience with fragrant clusters in spring. Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Ivy (Hedera), and Boston ivy (Parthenocissus) stay green even under snow. Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) blooms in the heart of winter when everything else is grey. Discover our collections of Clematis, Wisteria, and climbers and ground covers.

Evergreen shrubs for a green balcony in winter

Viburnum tinus keeps its leaves all year and flowers in winter — a rare combination. Camellia japonica offers spectacular flowers from January to April, right in the middle of winter. Pyracantha (firethorn) is covered with bright orange berries in autumn that last throughout winter. Fargesia (clumping bamboo) forms a persistent privacy screen that withstands temperatures down to -26°C. Explore our collections of Viburnum tinus, Camellia japonica, and Fargesia.

Hardy fruit trees in pots

Harvesting fruit on your balcony even in a cold region is possible. The Fig tree (Ficus carica) tolerates -15°C and produces delicious figs. Berry fruit trees — blueberry, currant, raspberry, mulberry — are all hardy and suitable for pot cultivation. The Apple tree in a pot withstands harsh winters while still bearing fruit. Grape vines and Kiwi tolerate frost well and add lush foliage from spring to autumn. Explore our collections of Ficus carica, fruit and aromatic plants, and urban vegetable gardens.

Evergreen perennials and grasses

Carex (Japanese sedge), Phormium (New Zealand flax), and Lomandra keep their foliage all year and bring texture and movement to a winter balcony. Hellebore (Christmas rose) blooms from December to March when nothing else grows. Cupressus (cypress) offers a compact, evergreen silhouette. Discover our collection of mini shrubs and urban perennials.

Protecting potted plants from frost

In the ground, roots are protected by the soil mass. In pots, they are much more exposed. To protect your plants in winter: group pots against a wall sheltered from the wind, wrap containers with frost cloth or bubble wrap, elevate pots to avoid direct contact with frozen ground, and reduce watering without stopping it completely. Our article plants in winter: how to help them survive and even thrive during the cold months details all the techniques.

Creating a balcony that looks beautiful all year

The trick: combine species whose highlights follow one another through the seasons. A Camellia for winter flowers, a Clematis for spring, a Campsis for summer, an Acer palmatum for autumn colors. In the background, a Fargesia and a Viburnum ensure green permanence all year round. Browse our collections of balconies and terraces and outdoor plants.