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Winter hanging baskets

debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
in Plants
Hi all, every year I do about a dozen baskets for family and friends. This year I want to branch out into winter baskets wondering what plants other people use? I am thinking violas, the teardrop variety seem perfect but does anyone put in spring bulbs? I am not a fan of heathers, grasses or cabbages so that limits things I know but any suggestions gratefully received, apologies if this seems a little early but I like to plant up when plants are young for a better display. Thanks 
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  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I don't do hanging baskets, but do winter pots.
    I use heucheras of various colours, winter pansies to match or contrast, and usually a grass or Carex to add some height, though you could use euonymus. 
    Most of the ones I use would grow too large for a basket, and you say you don't care for grasses, but C. Oshimensis 'Everest' with its arching growth would look lovely in a hanging basket with pansies or violas and maybe a few snowdrops. You could also use Scillas, Chionodoxa or Iris reticulata.
    I'm with you on the cabbagey things, though they are colourful, but they can pong a bit as the outer leaves start to go!


  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    I love the idea of iris reticulata and heucheras too would be pretty I have lots of those so if I split them into smaller plants they would work as a contrast. Thanks for the advice. Not done them before but always fancied having a go. 
  • GrajeanGrajean Posts: 447
    I add Tete a Tete mini daffs, also Minnow and of course hyacinths. I find that violas are better than pansies as they usually keep flowering through the winter.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't do conventional baskets either, although I have some wall types which I have on my back fence as part of  a 'green wall'. I use heucheras in those and also have snowdrops/crocus  and hellebores, as I have mainly soil in them rather than compost. Like B'cupdays, I've used carexes before too - Evergold is also good, but if you don't like them, that's fair enough!

    I think the biggest issue is that most plants for summer are trailing as well as upright, so you get good coverage - or should do if they're properly done! In winter, you'd either need to have the baskets a bit lower [not really possible?] to get more of the plants at eye level, or use some of the little variegated ivies to get decent basket coverage. There aren't too many other plants that I can't think of which would work for the sides. Remember that even through winter, you'd need to make sure they didn't dry out, especially if they're beside front/back doors, where the eaves of houses create a lot of shelter.
    I'm about to tinker with poking small bits of saxifrage and heuchera through the sides of some of mine though. Many Saxifrages [the mossy ones] are evergreen, and fairly adaptable, so that might work for you around the sides.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489
    You can get trailing heucheras


    SW Scotland
  • Valley GardenerValley Gardener Posts: 2,851
    What an interesting thread,I never realized Heuchera would over winter,I think I'd like to have a go at a winter arrangement,would it work on a north west facing window box?
    The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489
    edited August 2018
    No problem VG.  My trailing heucheras face north and the ones in pots face west.

    SW Scotland
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    My green fence is exactly that aspect V.Gardener  :)
    Don't have an up to date photo, but this was one of the troughs earlier this year. The snowdrop folaige is the 'dangly' bit  :)

    That's  nice Joyce. I think mine trail a bit anyway from the baskets, and they're lovely in flower. The bees make the flowers bounce up and down  :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Valley GardenerValley Gardener Posts: 2,851
    Wow,that's lovely! My garden drops six steps down from the back door to  paved terrace,then another five steps to the garden, so from my kitchen window I start to see the garden about half way down,and my eyes aren't good. But........I have a wide window ledge at the front sitting room and could put a box there.It's straight on to the Street (as a lot of the terraced houses are) so I'd have to get OH to fix it,and hope the plants stay in situ !!!   But how nice to see something like your trough @Fairygirl.😁
    The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    VG - I've just replanted one with a yellowy heucherella [Alabama Sunrise] I split not long ago, some snowdrops, and a hellebore.  I have a couple of longer troughs as well. One will go on the fence soon. Should have been done it earlier, but it's going in a gap near where the little hedgehog family were living, and I didn't want to disturb them too much!
    Could you create a big container/window box type of thing on your terrace? Some of the heucheras are really bright and cheery - they're lovely and sunny on a dull winter day. A few early spring bulbs - crocus, snowdrops and dwarf daffs- and you'd have a nice display to tide you through till spring.  :)


    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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