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No direct sunlight? These beautiful window box plants will still bloom and thrive throughout summer
If your window boxes are looking tired after spring, now is the perfect time to refresh them with shade-loving plants that thrive in darker spots. Milder temperatures and longer daylight hours encourage faster growth, helping easy-care flowers and foliage quickly fill containers with colour, texture and trailing greenery that will last well into autumn. Whether your boxes sit beneath a porch, on a north-facing windowsill or in a shaded courtyard, these low-maintenance plants will brighten even the gloomiest corners with minimal effort.
‘The best way to create a window box garden is to take time choosing varieties that love shade and also making sure your window box has good drainage to avoid soggy roots,’ says Mark Sage, horticultural expert at B&Q. ‘When planting a shaded window box, I’d always recommend mixing different leaf shapes, heights and textures to create a fuller display.’
Below, discover the beautiful shade-loving window box plants that are easy to grow and guaranteed to deliver a colourful display all summer.
Whether tuberous, fibrous-rooted, or leafy, all types of begonia will grow best when they are kept out of direct sunlight, and even prefer a spot in dappled or partial shade.
‘Avoid planting begonias in a south-facing location, as their foliage will burn in direct sunlight,’ says Richard Barker, horticultural expert at LBS Horticulture. ‘Tuberous begonias are best for growing in pots, but they will need to be placed somewhere sheltered as they can have brittle stems and heavy flowers.’
They are also wonderfully easy plants to care for. Keep them well watered, but ensure you allow their soil to dry out between waterings – especially the top inch or two – to prevent root rot and avoid overwatering.
Stunning and strong, fuchsias grow lovely white, pink, purple, and red flowers in dangle formation – a lovely option for adding extra depth to your window box display.
‘They perform perfectly well in window boxes, especially in shaded and cooler places as they are fully protected from the summer sun,’ says Matthew Wilson, gardening expert at Handy Gardeners. ‘They also prefer moist well-drained soil and need to be fed to support flowering and healthy growth.'
With regular watering and occasional deadheading, fuchsias will continue to produce their elegant blooms from early summer right through to the first frosts.
While hostas are often grown for their luscious foliage, they do produce attractive, scented flowers during summer and will thrive in light or medium shade.
‘As they are hardy, they can thrive in north-facing gardens or frost pockets – but avoid planting them in a metal container as their roots need to be kept cool during summer,’ says Richard.
Once established, hostas will usually look after themselves, but try to keep their soil from drying out, so as to ensure they don’t get dehydrated during the summer heat.
‘Just keep an eye out for slugs and snails, particularly in spring when fresh leaves emerge,’ adds Mark.
You might know astilbes by their quirky nickname, ‘false goat’s beard’, thanks to their feathery, plume-like flowerheads that add soft texture and height to shaded window boxes. Dreamy and dimensional, these easy-care perennials thrive in lower light and bring long-lasting colour.
‘They need to be grown in dappled or partial shade with moisture-retentive soil,’ explains Richard. ‘They do not tolerate dry soil, so you will need to keep a window box with astilbes well-watered.’
From late spring to summer, they will produce plumes of feathery flowers, and they do not need to be deadheaded. However, they will benefit from being divided every few years to regenerate the plant.
Also known as coral bells, heucheras are excellent for layering window box displays, adding dramatic colour and filling gaps in between taller plants.
‘Heucheras are a favourite of mine because they bring in beautiful foliage tones even when flowers are limited,’ says Mirela Bajic, senior garden designer at House Designer. 'The leaves come in shades like deep burgundy, caramel and lime green. This variety of colour and shape will make a shaded window feel much richer and more layered visually.’
Their attractive ruffled foliage looks just as good in early summer as it does in autumn, making them a reliable choice for long-lasting interest in shaded window boxes.
A tender herbaceous perennial plant, the blooms of busy lizzies can potentially last until autumn frosts, and they can be grown in partial shade.
‘They are best grown in a windowbox that is sheltered from winds, as the plant stems can snap easily,’ explains Richard. ‘As they are tender, they should not be planted until the risk of frost has passed.’
Pot-grown ones will also need regular watering to keep their compost moist – do this daily during hot, dry spells to prevent wilting and flower drop.
Ferns are one of the best filler plants for shaded window boxes, bringing softness, texture and movement to any display. Their delicate fronds unfurl into elegant, arching shapes that contrast beautifully with flowering plants, while creating a fuller, more layered arrangement.
‘They add texture and movement and help arrangements feel more natural rather than overly formal,’ says Mirela. ‘In smaller urban spaces, that balance between foliage and flowers often makes the display feel more considered.’
As well as being decorative, ferns are easy to care for and thrive in cool, sheltered spots where many sun-loving plants struggle.
‘Varieties like hearts tongue ferns or Japanese painted ferns work especially well in containers,’ adds Mark.
Keep the compost evenly moist and avoid letting it dry out completely, and they’ll provide reliable greenery throughout the summer season.
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