Are you dreaming of an ideal log cabin from a storybook? If you’ve been longing for a quaint bay window with an unhindered view of the scenery, exuding the perfect cottage vibe, then this is the spot for you.
Gharpedia helps you curate a tiny window garden, displaying some of the best bay window plants, and putting together an outstanding and stunning bay window aesthetic.
10 Ideal Plants for Bay-Window Garden
01. Hydrangeas
Hydrangea are the best plants for bay window landscapes due to their retro appeal, easy maintenance, multiple blossoms, and ability to survive in various soil conditions. These massive flower heads of pink pops will overpower your window garden basket. Adorn them with a cornice for decoration because they enjoy the partial sun.
02. Dwarf Spruce Shrubs
Evergreen perennial shrubs like dwarf spruce are ideal for small and shallow bay window planter boxes, providing a great frame for windows and doors. These shrubs grow in planting beds or pots. With a Christmas tree-like form, its bright green pointy leaves remain lush all year, with minimal maintenance.
03. Impish Elf lily
This Japanese miniature shrub features pink bell-shaped blooms that are believed to attract fairies and mischievous elves, as per legend! Plant an Impish elf lily to elevate your bay window design. The evergreen elf lily, with red leaves in spring, purple buds in winter, and bright pink flowers in spring, complements the fairy-tale cabin theme. The shrub’s colour changes with the seasons.
04. Hanging Plants – Donkey’s Tail, String of Pearls
You don’t always need a planter box to display your houseplants on the bay window. Add volume to your bay window with some dangling succulents. A string of pearls or Donkey tails are wonderful low-maintenance bay window plants. Place these plants in a hanging pot on the window for a stunning view of their cascading leaves, or form a beautiful frame.
05. Dwarf Dogwood
Bay window landscaping featuring dwarf dogwood or red-tipped dogwood can transform the exterior of your home. This compacted, mulched shrub grows 2–3 feet tall and 3–4 feet spread. With their lovely pink or white blossoms, these dogwoods put on a fantastic spring display. If you have a tiny front yard, the raspberry-like fruit can fall to the ground and birds pollinate little hedges.
06. Flowering Shrubs – Clematis, Morning Glory, Rose, Gardenia
Are you still looking for the best plants for a bay window that could add natural charm to your outdoor space? Plant exotic shrubs that will bloom into beautiful bouquets in the spring and attract butterflies and birds. Keep the natural splendour and spring blossom spectacle of your untamed clematis, morning glory, rose, gardenia, lilacs, forsythia, mock orange, piers, and other spring flowering shrubs by pruning them back to size. However, remember that floral shrubs need meticulous misting and well-fertilized soil.
07. Boxwoods – Buxus Green Gem, English Boxwood, Green Pillow, Winter Gem
The boxwood shrub is ideal for potted flowers, hedges, and even looks good when left untrimmed on your bay window. They thrive in almost any light situation, while many of them are cold-hardy varieties that withstand severe winters too. They are often seen on royal estates. Common or English boxwood species are popular among backyard gardeners. You can prune them into the shape and design of your liking. These front window garden ideas enhance home curb appeal.
08. Winter Creeper
Wintercreeper is one of the best plants for a bay window landscape. It is a multi-purpose evergreen shrub that may also be used as a creeping vine, as ground cover, walkway edging, and in window gardens. These plants look best when allowed to flourish on their own. This dishevelled appearance contributed to the window decor’s allure. You can prune and maintain it as a shrub about 2 feet tall, but it will spread out as ground cover without support.
09. Small Yew Shrubs
Yew bushes are widely used evergreen landscape plants for hedging, screens, window-box plantings, potted flowers, and shrub borders. Yews are garden favourites because of their thick, evergreen foliage and tolerance for recurrent trimming. Furthermore, yew bushes are often low-maintenance plants that are resistant to dry spells. They grow effortlessly in most soil types and bloom in full sun or shade. It is one of the best front window landscaping ideas.
10. Rhododendron
Brighten up your bay-window with vibrant, and exquisite blooms of Rhododendrons or Azaleas; stunning hedges that bloom in spring. These easy-to-grow plants can be grown in pots due to their shallow root systems. Proper drainage is crucial for them. Try out these bay-window garden ideas to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home.
Tips on Creating the Right Ambiance for Your Bay-Window Plants
01. Lighting
- Assess light or shade under the bay window before planting.
- Provide enough room (at least 2 feet away) for plant growth.
- Consider adding a sunshade or planting on the shaded side.
02. Planters
- Window box plants enhance property aesthetics.
- Ideal for well-lit spaces like window sills.
- Diverse range available, from cheap grill planters to self-watering concrete boxes.
03. Soil Mix
- Choose soil carefully for containers or garden beds.
- Yard soil is too thick for pots; use specialized nutrient-rich soil.
- Maintain soil pH and nutrition with proper fertilizer.
04. Moisture and Watering
- Study each plant’s water needs.
- Water succulents when soil is mostly dry; mist for moisture-loving plants.
- Tailor watering frequency based on individual plant requirements.
05. Drainage
- Proper drainage is crucial for window box planters.
- Some have perforations; drill holes if not present.
- Make six-inch-apart holes with a one-inch spade bit.
- Use nuts or old bottle corks at the bottom before adding landscaping mesh to prevent soil seepage.
Curate your Tiny Bay Window Garden with the Season’s Most Gorgeous Blossom!
Your gardening should complement the architectural features of your home, such as bay windows. By now, you are probably aware that all types of plants are not suitable for under-window flower beds. Plantings should bring attention to the window without obscuring it. Low-growing shrubs or under-window flower bed designs can be something to think about if you have a bay window box seat.
FAQs
01. What is the Distinction Between a Bay and a Garden Window?
Bay and garden windows are different. While garden windows are frequently located in kitchens, bay windows create a focal point in living rooms or dining rooms. Garden windows also include an inside shelf that displays goods or grown plants.
02. How Can I Decorate My Bay Window with Plants?
Bay window plant ideas highlight the elegance of a bay window. Plant one or two taller plants straight to the right and left of the window for a more formal effect. Directly beneath the windows, place low-growing hedges or bushes between them, followed by a row of complementing flowers or foliage that is shorter than the bushes.
03. Is it Possible to Install a Bay Window Anywhere?
Angled bay windows go well in living areas and meeting rooms. However, you can install them anywhere you want to capture panoramic views and flood the interior with natural light.
04. What Is the Maximum Weight Capacity of a Garden Window?
The weight that a garden window can support is determined by its size and design. Some garden windows may only support 25 pounds, while others can take up to 100 pounds. On average, garden window shelves cannot accommodate more than 8lbs per square foot.
05. Where do Bay Windows Leak and How Do You Repair Them?
Your bay window’s leak will most likely be towards the edges. If you identify an area where air is leaking, snip a piece of silicone caulk and apply it to the leak.
06. What are Foundation Plants?
Foundation plantings are a type of plant used in landscape design to merge a structure into its surroundings and conceal any unsightly foundation characteristics. Foundation plantings can be planned to be exceedingly dense—solid clusters of shrubs and other plants with no gaps between them.
Also Read: A Complete Guide to Apartment Balcony Garden!
Image Courtesy : Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 6, Image 8, Image 10, Image 11
Author Bio
Saili Sawantt – She is an Architect and Interior Designer by profession. Writing is what she treats as her passion. She has worked as an Architectural Writer, Editor, and Journalist for various design as well as digital portals, both national and international. Formerly she has also worked with Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) Design Studio, Mumbai, due to her keen interested in learning about Sustainability and Green buildings. Apart from this, she runs her blog ‘The Reader’s Express’ and is a practicing Architect & Interior Designer.