Though winter is often associated with animals and plants entering a mode of dormancy or hibernation, it need not be a drab or inactive season for your home or garden. Given the diversity of eye-catching plants found all throughout temperate and subarctic zones, there are more than a handful of trees, shrubs, and flowering herbs with adaptations for the cold. In fact, some of these plants have their most productive periods with the arrival of chilly temperatures.
As seasonal plants can be quite challenging to maintain throughout the year, especially as they may die back during markedly hot or cool spells, many gardeners opt to situate them in movable containers. Hanging baskets are definitely one of the most useful tools for adding interest to outdoor patios, the gaps beneath towering branches, and brightly lit indoor spaces. They can be moved from one place to another whenever the plants they hold require a change of ambient conditions.
Though hanging baskets, in essence, can provide just as much support to plants as a standard pot would, they are best used for a combination of species with pliable, arching stems. As these plants grow, they should gradually spill over the edges of the basket, sending out spritely stems that seem to defy gravity. The proper selection of either evergreen or cold-tolerant perennials should have your baskets brimming with life and exuding warmth through winter.
1) Variegated English ivy (Hedera helix ‘Variegata’)
The ‘Variegata’ cultivar of English ivy is a spectacular addition to hanging baskets. Its trailing stems can be used to thoroughly cover the substrate or complement the appearance of other cold-tolerant plants. Best known for its palmate, multi-colored leaves – typically with lighter-colored margins and veins – it can effectively enliven both outdoor and indoor spaces. With a knack for being aggressive, the trailing stems and roots can seemingly colonize any surface or patch of soil they come across.
As a “spiller”, variegated English ivy can be used to hide the rim of a pot or basket all throughout winter. Hardy to USDA zones 4 – 10, it can tolerate temperatures that dip down to around -20˚F (-29˚C). Its leaves will require shelter and protection from winds, however, as their growth rate may be arrested in particularly harsh conditions. Light frost will not necessarily kill the leaves if they have slowly grown acclimatized to the cold.
To maintain the appearance of a basket of ivy, it should be placed in an area receiving bright yet indirect or filtered sunlight. The leaves can tolerate either full sun exposure or low light, but these may affect their degree of variegation. Good indoor air circulation, light from an east or west-facing window, and well-draining soil should bring out the best leaf features.
2) Winter heath (Erica carnea)
In the wild, stands of winter heath grow along mountainous slopes and shady woodlands. This evergreen shrub, which comes in dozens of cultivars, is now quite popular with horticulturists due to its evergreen nature and its late winter blooms. It can be grown in numerous ways; this ornamental is fantastic as extensive ground cover above a rolling landscape or when its shoots are contained within the bounds of a hanging basket.
Tolerant of both slightly acidic and slightly alkaline substrates, winter heath is as versatile and adaptable as winter plants come. When it is rooted directly into the substrate, its mature specimens can be trained to grow as miniature trees! Of course, those placed in a basket should seldom grow to large sizes and will need to be pruned regularly to maintain a well-defined shape.
Both the delicate inflorescences and the tough, needle-like foliage of winter heath look especially charming beneath a light dusting of snow. When provided with ample protection from extreme weather, the urn-shaped blooms can last all through December to February. In shades of pink, red, white, or purple, their flowering mats can share a basket with dwarf irises and cold-tolerant crocuses.
3) Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi)
The true Christmas cactus is a phenomenal hybrid between S. truncata and S. russelliana, both of which are native to the rainforests of Brazil. Though tropical plants are probably the last species you’d consider as “winter plants”, this epiphytic succulent continues to grace the homes of many avid gardeners through the holidays. It is named for its tendency to bloom around Christmas time, right when outdoor temperatures render many cacti dormant.
The trick to getting your Christmas cactus to bloom in winter is by providing it with lengthy daylight hours through summer, during which it may be placed outdoors (in partial or filtered light). After this period of growth, it should be moved into an area where a lengthy period of darkness (around 13 hours) can be simulated each night. Increasingly cool temperatures should encourage buds to form just in time for winter. As the buds and cladodes, or flattened stem segments, are unlikely to survive frost exposure, the plant will need to be moved indoors.
Hanging baskets are the perfect containers to display the specialized, arching stems of this unique succulent. The red to magenta blooms, situated at the tips of mature stems, are oriented downward, so they are best viewed from below a suspended setup.
4) Hardy stonecrops (Sedum spp.)
Often found in arid and alpine climates, stonecrops are well-adapted to seasonal changes in moisture. They are equipped with various morphologies of their water-storing leaves – some resemble jellybeans, whereas others appear tough and flat. These members of the Crassulaceae family are generally known as succulents.
As long as their roots are situated in well-draining substrates, stonecrops are able to tolerate a wide range of sun exposure and temperature conditions. Many species are able to withstand winter temperatures if their root system is kept dry. For this reason, they are fairly easy to maintain in containers. Hanging baskets can bring out the best features of those with cascading or trailing stems, such as ‘Burro’s tail’ (S. morganianum) or ‘small-fruited stonecrop’ (S. microcarpum).
Once they are well-established, many popular stonecrops are able to persist outdoors in regions with mild winters. In areas with harsher frosts, it may be prudent to overwinter a basket of sedums indoors. Though the thick-skinned leaves may tolerate exposure to snow, exceedingly cool temperatures and poor evaporation rates can increase their susceptibility to root rot.
5) Florist’s cineraria (Pericallis x hybrida)
Florist’s cineraria, also known as common ragwort, is a stunning cross between two Canary Island natives – P. cruenta and P. lanata. This hybrid is usually grown as a winter annual as it is short-lived and produces blooms only during the coolest months of the year. Its daisy-like blooms are nothing short of eye-catching due to the vibrant hues of their petals. Furthermore, they resemble the shape of a bouquet as they are densely packed and form the most vivid mounds.
This hybrid’s seeds should be sown around late summer if you intend for their blooms to appear during Christmas. When provided with full shade, well-draining and slightly acidic substrates, ample nutrients, and consistent moisture, the seedlings should develop into blooming shoots in as little as 16 – 18 weeks. Planting them later or earlier in the year can give rise to spring or fall blooms instead.
Note that, although this hybrid is partial to cool temperatures, it will not survive in harsh conditions. Ideally, it should be grown indoors or in a protected outdoor area with bright, filtered sunlight. To promote flower production, it should be exposed to temperatures between 50 – 65˚F (10 – 18˚C). Sustained temperatures below 40˚F (4˚C) or above 80˚F (27˚C) can cause the plant to die back.
6) Evergreen ferns (Various species)
Many evergreen ferns are able to thrive in hanging baskets, from which their arching fronds can gracefully add color and texture to both indoor and outdoor spaces. The most suitable species for your region are those that naturally occur there and are known for surviving through winter frosts. Usually sensitive to humidity levels and sun exposure, ferns are best situated in areas that are protected from harsh winds and snow.
Some of the best hardy ferns for winter interest are grouped under the following genera: Asplenium, Dryopteris, Polystichum, and Polypodium. These include woodland ferns that are able to survive as perennials in temperate zones. For regions with mild winters, these plants may continue to thrive outdoors all throughout the year. For regions with prolonged frosts and subzero temperatures, their hanging baskets may be overwintered indoors – preferably in dry partial shade.
7) Creeping jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Creeping jenny can be maintained as a winter plant in USDA hardiness zones 8 – 9. It can technically survive as a perennial as far north as USDA zone 4, but markedly cool temperatures and frosts will cause its stems to die back. In mild to warm winters, its shoots remain evergreen if they are given ample protection. Compared to those rooted into the pond border or rock garden, specimens grown in elevated pots or hanging baskets are usually more likely to retain their charming foliage through winter.
A rapid spreader in optimal environments, creeping jenny is typically cultivated as a ground cover plant in moist yet well-draining areas. It’s a fine choice for hanging baskets as its self-spreading stems can gracefully cascade over the edge. Oppositely arranged, circular leaves give the stems a well-balanced and lively appearance. Those of the type species are bright green, whereas those of the more popular cultivar, ‘Aurea’, are golden yellow.
A hanging arrangement with trailing stems of creeping jenny is more likely to flourish through winter if it is moved into a brightly lit spot indoors. The bright foliage can complement those of other cold-tolerant plants, but keep in mind that they do have the tendency to compete with slower-growing natives for resources. Don’t be surprised if this species’ stems begin to hijack the substrates of any nearby pots and baskets!
8) American wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)
A few hanging baskets of American wintergreen should have your porch or terrace brimming with life through winter. This species’ eye-catching fruits, which take on the form of spherical, bright red berries, starkly contrast their backdrop of deep green leaves. Developing slightly reddish hues along their margins through winter, these are borne on stems that grow to just 4 – 6 inches (10 – 15 cm) tall in partly to fully shaded locations.
A recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, the American wintergreen performs splendidly in regions with cool summers and winter temperatures dipping down to -35˚C (-31˚F). As an evergreen, it is remarkably hardy and generous. Due to its preference for shade, it can be situated in hanging baskets placed either indoors or in sheltered outdoor features. Bright, filtered light pouring through a north-facing window is desirable for leaf and fruit production.
If your hanging baskets of American wintergreen are left outdoors through winter, they may attract a handful of fruit-eating birds and sneaky mammals. Deer, mice, foxes, and chipmunks don’t necessarily rely on it for food, but they will definitely be drawn to the lustrous leaves and berries! If you intend to attract these animals, consider placing pots and baskets of this plant beneath the shade of a tree.
9) Sutherland hebe (Hebe pinguifolia ‘Sutherlandii’)
A low-maintenance filler for hanging baskets, the Sutherland hebe is a dwarf cultivar of the disk-leaved hebe. This compact shrub grows to a maximum height of just 2 feet (61 cm) tall. Due to its low-growing stems and its capacity to gradually fill out pots or spaces, it is often cultivated as ground cover. Its tidy appearance also makes it a fine companion plant for delicate winter succulents and winter bulbs, such as Galanthus nivalis (snowdrops).
This cold-hardy, evergreen cultivar is seldom bothered by temperatures that dip down to around 15˚C or 59˚F (i.e. conditions typically found in USDA zone 7a). Its petite whorls of greyish-green leaves give its shoots a symmetrical and uniform texture. The quality of the foliage is retained in either full or partial sun exposure. As the roots tend to favor slightly alkaline substrates, avoid situating this species in baskets with acid-loving plants.
Once it is well-established, the Sutherland hebe is able to tolerate exposure to chilly winds. As long as the weather isn’t exceedingly harsh, it can be left in a fairly sheltered area outdoors all throughout winter. One of the only downsides to its cultivation is its slow-growing nature. It may take years for this cultivar to fill out a hanging basket. You can try growing several individuals, perhaps with other frost-tolerant hebes, in a single basket to speed up the process.
