In autumn we often have dreary days and gray skies, but there can still be colorful blooms on the balcony. With the right autumn plants on the balcony, flowers, colorful foliage and ornamental grasses ensure a varied, natural decoration and a good mood. By decorating the balcony and making it autumnal, you extend the balcony time by valuable weeks. And it’s that easy:
Assembling plants
The selection of autumn plants available for your balcony is large. They look best in colorful combinations and create a lush look. When making combinations, however, pay attention to the requirements and properties of the plants. These should fit together when planting balcony boxes.
These factors include:
- Fluid and nutrient requirements
- Location
- Substrate
- Winter hardiness
Especially frost-sensitive plants such as cyclamen must be placed in a cool, bright room in the house before the first frost. They are therefore not suitable for mixed cultivation with more resistant plants.
Tip:
Alternatively, more sensitive plants can be placed in plant pots in tubs or boxes. When it's frosty, they're easy to remove and bring into the house. The resulting gaps can be filled with evergreen plants or with autumnal decorations.
Cyclamen (Cyclamen)
Cyclamens are available in a variety of colors, single and double. They are not hardy, but can beautify the window sills of cool rooms during frosty periods. They come into their own particularly well in combination with the mock berry and heather.
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum)
Flowering chrysanthemums are wonderful for the balcony. They are available in numerous colors and types, so they can be used alone to provide variety. When choosing, the flowering period and winter hardiness must be taken into account. Garden chrysanthemums are also known as winter asters and survive frost without damage. However, they hardly or not at all bloom in autumn.
Autumn chrysanthemums bloom from August to November and attract bees and butterflies. However, they are only partially hardy and require a sheltered location and protection from freezing.
Ivy (Hedera helix)
Ivy is evergreen, hardy and easy to care for. Although its foliage does not turn strikingly colorful in autumn, it still remains a decorative basis. If it has grown over a trellis as a privacy screen, hanging pots with flowering plants can add colorful accents.
Fairy Flower (Epimedium)
Although the elf flowers bloom in spring, they brighten up the balcony in autumn with the play of colors of their foliage. The leaves are only shed in severe and persistent frost. In mild winters it looks decorative all year round.
Sedum (Sedum)
Sedums are popular ground cover plants and bloom from August to October. The color spectrum ranges from white to pink to red. The small flowers invite you to take a closer look, while hardy varieties bring life to the balcony even in sub-zero temperatures.
Houseleek (Sempervivum)
The houseleek only produces flowers from the third year onwards, even under optimal conditions. The flowering period is between May and August. The different varieties and colors still have a decorative effect all year round. Houseleek is hardy, easy to care for and robust.
Heide (Erica)
Snow heather and broom heather are available in white, soft pink and strong pink. The small and numerous flowers are particularly decorative and can decorate the plants until late spring. They are one of the first sources of food for bees and are more than just an attractive autumn decoration for the balcony.
Purple bells (Heuchera)
Purple bells bloom until September, depending on the overall weather conditions. However, the decorative foliage perennials are eye-catchers even without flowers. The bright foliage creates an interesting contrast to green plants throughout the winter.
Mockberry (Gaultheria)
The false berry, also known as the winter berry, is extremely hardy and has very shiny leaves. Bright red fruits appear in November, which can round off the autumn decorations on the balcony. They also serve as a food source for birds in winter.
Silverleaf (Lunaria annua)
The silver leaf is an eye-catcher even without flowers due to its silver-green leaf color and creates interesting contrasts to other plants. After flowering, decorative, translucent seed heads form. The annual silver leaf is not hardy. In mild winters it can be kept in a sheltered place and wrapped in fleece or overwintered. In severe frosts, the plant must be kept bright and cool indoors.
Late blooming dahlias (Dahlia)
Late-flowering varieties of dahlias can open their first flowers as early as July and provide a colorful decoration for the balcony until late autumn. They are available in a variety of colors, as well as plain and filled versions. The late-blooming dahlias cannot tolerate frost and must be kept indoors over the winter.
Barbed Wire Plant (Calocephalus)
The barbed wire plant is a decorative addition to the balcony due to its interesting look. Originating from Australia. It is not hardy in the local area, but is still suitable as a plant, because even the frozen shoots are decorative.
Ornamental grasses
Ornamental grasses, with or without flowers, are a decorative addition to autumnal balcony decorations and are available in a wide variety. Variants with a height of two meters can serve as a natural privacy screen. Small varieties, on the other hand, are suitable for combination with flowering plants and enrich balcony boxes with their dynamic look.
Species suitable for the balcony are:
- Atlas fescue (Festuca mairei)
- Blue fescue (Festuca glauca)
- Miscanthus
- Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica)
- Japanese harrow (Carex morrowii)
- Pennisetum alopecuroides
- Pampas grass (Cortaderia Selloana)
- Pipe grass (Molinia)
- Riding grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora)
- Giant feather grass (Celtica gigantea)
- Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
- Delicate feather grass (Stipa tenuissima)
Tip:
Due to the significant differences in size, the final size and cutting tolerance of the respective ornamental grass should always be taken into account. Winter hardiness and any necessary protective measures are also important criteria.
ornamental cabbage
Ornamental kale is an unusual decoration for the balcony thanks to its unusual shape and color gradient. Without protection it can withstand temperatures down to -10 °C.
ornamental wine
Ornamental wine is well hardy, does not need protection from wind and is as robust as it is colorful. The color of the leaves in winter is an eye-catcher, while the plant itself serves as a privacy screen.
Suitable for the balcony are:
- Virgin Vine
- Scarlet Wine
- Wild Wine
Autumn Decorations
The autumn planting can be supplemented with other seasonal decorations to make the balcony particularly individual.
Appropriate and natural include:
- (ornamental) pumpkins
- tied grain ears
- dried sunflowers
- corn on the cob
- Straw figures
- Birdhouses
- Pumpkins for Halloween
LED fairy lights, lanterns, pillows, blankets and glass balls can serve as balcony decorations all year round. They become autumnal with yellow, orange and red tones that are reminiscent of the colors of autumn leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Are conifers suitable for autumn planting on the balcony?
Yes, hardy conifers that remain small or tolerate pruning can provide the evergreen basis for autumn planting on the balcony. They are easy to care for and are a lively decoration even in winter.
How do I care for balcony plants in autumn?
For most plants, fertilization can be avoided in the fall. It is important to avoid both dryness and waterlogging. In the event of heavy rainfall and if there is no roof, water drainage must be ensured.
