Evergreens aren’t just for the backyard! Plenty of conifer species actually thrive in containers, making them a fantastic way to add some year-round greenery to your balcony or patio. If you’re looking to spruce up your outdoor space, here’s everything you need to know about growing potted evergreens.
The Best Conifers for Container Gardening
Not every evergreen is a good candidate for a pot. You’ll want to steer clear of the giants that are destined to tower over a house. Instead, look for dwarf or compact varieties. These are usually sold as small shrubs, globes, or even “standards” (which look like little trees on a stick).
Mixing and Matching Your Evergreens
If you’re planning on having a few different pots, don’t be afraid to mix things up! You can create a really eye-catching display on your balcony by playing with different heights, growth habits, and needle colors—ranging from deep forest greens to silvery blues and golden yellows.
Shrub-Like Conifers
If you’re looking for that classic shrubby look, these varieties do great in pots:
- Korean Fir
- Dwarf Cork Bark Fir
- Dwarf Arborvitae
- Various Cypress species, like the Hinoki Cypress or Sawara Cypress.
Globe and Mounded Varieties
For a neat, rounded look that stays tidy without much pruning, try:
- Dwarf Balsam Fir
- Scots Pine and Bosnian Pine
- Globe Spruce or Bird’s Nest Spruce
- Globe Arborvitae.
Groundcover Evergreens
Don’t overlook the low-growers! Creeping varieties like the Shore Juniper or Creeping Juniper look amazing spilling over the edges of pots and balcony planter boxes.
Caring for Your Potted Trees
When it comes to container gardening, the pot itself matters. Generally, clay or ceramic pots are better than plastic because they breathe more easily. A good rule of thumb is to choose a pot that is about 1.5 times larger than the tree’s root ball.
The most important thing to remember? Don’t forget the water! Potted evergreens can dry out faster than those in the ground, so make sure the root ball never completely dries out. You’ll also want to keep them happy with regular fertilizing to ensure they get all the nutrients they need.
Winter Care for Potted Evergreens
Many conifers are quite hardy and can stay outside all winter. However, since their roots are more exposed in a pot, it’s a good idea to give them a little extra love with a layer of mulch or a burlap wrap. If you have a variety that isn’t fully frost-hardy, you’ll want to move it to a sheltered spot once the temperatures really start to drop.
Can They Live Indoors?
While it’s tempting to bring that forest scent inside, most conifers aren’t meant for life as a permanent houseplant. The one big exception is the Norfolk Island Pine, which loves living indoors year-round. For most other evergreens, they’ll be much happier if they spend most of their time outside or in a cool sunroom, only coming inside for a few days at a time.
