While winter often brings a temporary halt to many gardens, outdoor planters with beautiful winter flowers can brighten up any gloomy day. A mixture of texture, color, and height is the best way to create a striking planter.
There are many brightly colored winter flowers that do well in planters. Pansies and sorbet violas come in a variety of pretty colors and are hardy flowers. They can survive colder temperatures, making them a great choice for Louisiana’s winter climate where they often remain in bloom throughout the winter. Furthermore, violas are edible flowers and make delightful garnishes and salad ingredients. They can also be candied for a frosted effect and used to decorate cakes or other confections.
Snapdragons, another winter-blooming flower that adds vibrant pops of color to a planter, prefer cooler temperatures, well-drained soil, and will continue to bloom into the winter. They are low maintenance and can tolerate a light frost. Snapdragons are also pollinators which is beneficial to the local ecosystem. They can grow up to two feet tall and with pretty spikes of blooms.
Dianthus, another pollinator, can add texture and vibrant color to a planter. It is a hardy, low maintenance flower that can tolerate a range of temperatures. The foliage is grass-like in varying shades of green depending on the variety.
Sweet Alyssum is a cascading plant that is excellent for planters. Their cascading effect softens any boxy container. They have delicate white or pink flowers with small light green leaves. Alyssum prefers well-drained soil and full sun. They are low maintenance but do require regular watering.
Offering a beautiful contrast in color and texture to a planter of winter flowers, Foxtail (asparagus) Ferns really make a planter look elegant. This evergreen beauty is lush and its vibrant greenery and will elevate the look of your outdoor container. It is low maintenance and very versatile. Caution, if there are small children and pets, this plant can pose a danger due to its toxicity.
Another beautiful winter green for the outdoor planter is rosemary. It’s texture and color and wonderful scent adds a nice contrast to foxtail ferns and colorful flowers. Rosemary does need to be pruned to keep from overtaking a planter but the pruning’s can be used in the kitchen as a fresh herb.
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