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Window Box Ideas and the Best Plants for Window Boxes
The best plants for window boxes are compact, long-blooming, and happy in the light your window gets: petunias, geraniums, and lantana for full sun; begonias, impatiens, and coleus for shade; and trailing plants like sweet potato vine or creeping Jenny to spill over the edge. Size the box to roughly match the width of the window, give it drainage, and plan to water more often than a garden bed, because window boxes dry out fast.
Here are window box ideas for every style and season, the best plants for sun and shade, and practical tips for mounting, drainage, and watering.
Window Box Ideas
1. Classic Thriller, Filler, Spiller
Plant one upright "thriller" in the center (like a spike or a tall geranium), mounding "fillers" around it, and a trailing "spiller" along the front edge. It's the simplest formula for a full, professional look.
2. A Kitchen Herb Box
Mount a box outside the kitchen window and fill it with basil, thyme, chives, and parsley. The Cedar Window Box Planter – 22 in is made from untreated Western red cedar, so it's a safe home for herbs you'll eat. For a bigger herb setup, see our guide to starting a patio herb garden.
3. Monochrome Boxes
Choose one color, like all white or all purple, in different textures and heights. A single color looks clean and modern, especially on brick or dark siding.
4. Railing and Balcony Boxes
Window boxes aren't just for windows. Set them on deck railings, balcony ledges, or porch rails with sturdy brackets. Read more planter box ideas for patios and decks.
5. Matching Boxes Across the Front of the House
Repeat the same box and planting under every front window. Repetition makes a home look polished from the street and boosts curb appeal.
6. Pollinator Boxes
Fill a box with lantana, salvia, and verbena to attract butterflies and hummingbirds you can watch from inside.
7. Fall Window Boxes
Swap summer annuals for mums, ornamental kale and cabbage, pansies, and small decorative gourds once nights cool down.
8. Winter Window Boxes
In cold climates, fill the box with cut evergreen branches, red twig dogwood stems, pinecones, and berries. They hold their color all winter without water.
9. Succulent Boxes for Hot, Dry Spots
Sedum, echeveria, and other succulents handle heat and missed waterings. Use a fast-draining cactus mix.
10. Faux Window Boxes on Sheds and Garden Rooms
Add a box under the window of a shed, studio, or Freedom Room to make the structure feel like part of the garden.
Best Plants for Window Boxes
| Light | Upright and mounding | Trailing |
|---|---|---|
| Full sun (6+ hours) | Geraniums, petunias, lantana, salvia, marigolds, zinnias, rosemary, basil | Calibrachoa (million bells), verbena, trailing petunias, sweet potato vine |
| Part sun | Coleus, dusty miller, nemesia, parsley, chives | Bacopa, lobelia, creeping Jenny |
| Shade | Begonias, impatiens, fuchsia, caladium, ferns | English ivy (indoor-outdoor), creeping Jenny, trailing torenia |
Tip: choose compact varieties. Plant tags that say "container," "compact," or "dwarf" stay in scale with a window box.
How Big Should a Window Box Be?
- Width: about the width of the window, or a little wider, looks most balanced.
- Depth: 6 to 8 inches of soil suits most annuals and herbs. Deeper boxes hold more water and need watering less often.
- Height on the wall: mount the box just below the window sill so the plants frame the window instead of blocking it.
The 22-inch cedar window box measures 22 inches wide, 7 inches deep, and 6 inches tall, sized for herbs and small flowers on ledges, railings, and balconies. Use two side by side under a wider window.
Window Box Care Tips
- Drainage: make sure water can escape so roots don't rot.
- Soil: use a lightweight potting mix, not garden soil, which compacts and gets heavy.
- Watering: check daily in summer. Small boxes in full sun can dry out in a single afternoon.
- Feeding: mix in slow-release fertilizer at planting, or use liquid feed every couple of weeks.
- Deadheading: pinch off spent blooms to keep flowers coming.
- Mounting: wet soil is heavy. Use brackets rated for the weight and fasten them into studs or solid framing.
- Protect the siding: leave a small gap between the box and the wall so water doesn't sit against it.
Why Cedar Window Boxes?
Western red cedar naturally resists rot and insects and holds up to constant moisture. Untreated cedar is also a smart choice for herbs and edibles. Learn how to keep its warm color in our guide to sealing and staining cedar, or browse all planter boxes.
Window Box FAQs
What are the best plants for window boxes in full sun?
Geraniums, petunias, lantana, calibrachoa, salvia, and herbs like rosemary and basil all thrive in sunny window boxes.
What grows in a shady window box?
Begonias, impatiens, fuchsia, coleus, ferns, and creeping Jenny do well in shade.
How deep should a window box be?
About 6 to 8 inches of soil works for most annuals and herbs. Deeper boxes dry out more slowly.
How often should I water a window box?
Check daily during hot weather. Window boxes dry out faster than garden beds because they hold less soil.
How wide should a window box be?
About the same width as the window, or slightly wider, gives the most balanced look.