6 Best Plants for Window Boxes

Looking to spruce up your curb appeal with a splash of color? Here are some great plants to consider for your window boxes.

All Kinds of Choices

Whether you’re going for practicality or a high-end look, there are lots of great plants for your window boxes. Here are the best options depending on your needs.

Best for Vibrant Look: Petunias

Petunias offer a beautiful pop of color to the exterior of any home. Better yet, they’re low-maintenance. Petunias flourish all spring, summer and fall with partial or full sun. They come in a wide range of colors, so you’re likely to find the one that pairs with the theme of your home.

Best for Minimal Look: Lamb’s Ear

Lamb’s ear is a practical choice if you don’t want the plants in your window box to overload your senses. Lamb’s ear is a drought-tolerant perennial that requires low maintenance. It’s great for a simple look.

Best for in Shade: Astilbe

Astilbes add color and texture, and they thrive in low shade areas — they’ll burn up in full sun. There are several varieties, so choose carefully. Fanal has dark red flowers, venus pink flowers and irrlicht white flowers.

Best for Full Sun: Sweet Potato Vine

Sweet Potato Vine thrives in the heat and will flow over planters. The color of the leaves can be blue/green, chartreuse/gold, gray/silver or purple/burgundy.

Best Herb: Basil

Basil pairs very well many other foods. It grows best in full sun with moist soil.

Best Vegetable: Cherry Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes are a great option for many regions, and provide a lot of options in the kitchen.