Plants That Survive Winter on a Balcony

Which plants survive winter on a balcony?

Plants that survive winter on a balcony fall into two groups: hardy plants that can stay outside in their pots all season, and tender summer favourites that must come indoors before the first frost. Most lists only give you the first group. This guide sorts both, adds what each plant needs on a sunny or a shady balcony, and checks the common ones against the ASPCA pet toxicity list. It is written for whichever hemisphere you are in: in the north, winter planting happens from autumn into early winter; in the south, the same jobs fall in late summer and autumn.

If your balcony is hot, sunny and windy, start with our list of hardy balcony plants for sun, wind and winter, which covers tough herbs, grasses and evergreens. This guide focuses on what keeps a balcony alive and colourful through the cold months, including the shady balconies those lists usually skip.

Winter balcony plants at a glance

The ASPCA lists cyclamen, Christmas rose, geranium and English ivy as toxic to both cats and dogs. For cyclamen it notes that the most serious effects come from eating the tubers. If a pet chews balcony pots, choose plants marked non-toxic, such as rosemary, and keep the others out of reach.

Which plants flower on a balcony in winter?

Hellebores. The RHS describes their nodding flowers as appearing in winter and early spring. Oriental hybrids generally need no extra winter protection, but the Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) and a few others need shelter from frost and winter wet, and the RHS suggests growing those permanently in containers that can be moved under cover. Most other hellebores suit a pot only for a winter display, then do better planted in the ground.

Hardy cyclamen. Cyclamen coum flowers in pink or magenta in the depths of winter, which the RHS gives as January to March in the UK (July to September in the southern hemisphere), and it survives severe weather. Cyclamen hederifolium flowers earlier, in early autumn, before its leaves. Both want part shade and a gritty, free-draining compost.

Winter pansies, violas and primulas. These are sold as winter bedding, but the RHS is clear that they mainly flower in spring and only flower intermittently during mild spells in winter. Plant them anyway for green cover and a strong spring show, and add bulbs such as dwarf daffodils, grape hyacinths or irises underneath.

What grows on a shady balcony in winter?

A north-facing balcony in the northern hemisphere, or a south-facing one in the southern hemisphere, gets little or no direct sun in winter. That rules out the sun-loving herbs, but not winter interest. The RHS recommends hardy evergreen ferns for shady positions, naming hart's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium), common polypody (Polypodium vulgare) and soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum). Hellebores and hardy cyclamen also prefer partial shade. Add an evergreen shrub such as skimmia or Gaultheria mucronata for berries, and heuchera or a small evergreen sedge (Carex) for leaf colour and texture.

Which balcony plants must come inside for winter?

Pelargoniums, the bright red and pink "geraniums" of summer balconies, are half-hardy. The RHS says they survive drought but not frost. Move pots under cover before the first autumn frost and keep them in a light, airy, frost-free place. Water sparingly so the compost dries between waterings; plants that you cut back need barely any water until growth starts again in spring. Many keep flowering at 7–10 °C (45–50 °F), so a bright, cool room or an enclosed balcony works well.

Florist's cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum), the large-flowered pot plant sold everywhere in autumn, looks like its hardy cousins but is not hardy. The RHS says it usually lasts until the new year in a sheltered spot outside; after that, treat it as a cool indoor plant.

Houseplants that spent the summer outside need to come in before the nights get cold, often well before frost. Our guide on how cold is too cold for houseplants gives temperature bands for common ones.

How do you look after balcony pots in winter?

• Give them as much light as you can. The RHS advises placing winter containers where they get as much light as possible to keep foliage green.
• Plant generously. Plants grow very little in winter, so start with good-sized plants and enough of them to fill the pot.
• Check the compost, even in winter. It can dry out quickly in mild spells, and smaller plants are more easily over- or underwatered.
• Skip the fertiliser. The RHS says it is not necessary to feed container plants in winter.
• Raise and protect pots. Stand them on pot feet or bricks to help drainage and reduce cracking, choose frost-proof terracotta, plastic, fibreglass or wood, and wrap pots in bubble wrap in severe weather to protect the roots.

If you keep several pots on the balcony, Flori lets you group plants by location and set watering reminders for each, which helps in winter when the compost dries unevenly.

When should you plant a winter balcony?

Plant in autumn, while the compost is still slightly warm and before hard frosts: in the northern hemisphere that is roughly September to November, in the southern hemisphere March to May. Buy evergreen shrubs and winter bedding when garden centres have the widest choice, and plant spring bulbs at the same time. Our guide on what to plant in November covers bulbs and other late plantings, and the seasonal plant care calendar lists the rest of the winter jobs. If a label is lost, a quick photo in the Flori app can identify the plant and show its care profile, including toxicity.

Flori editorial team

Written and fact-checked by the Flori team. Every guide cites horticultural sources such as the RHS, university extension services and the ASPCA, and is updated when the advice changes. How we write our guides

General plant care information. Plants vary; when a plant is valuable or a problem spreads quickly, consult a local nursery or plant specialist.