Calhoun County, AL – What Plants In Pots Outdoors Survive Freezes? By Betty Clark 10.28.24 . . . The following plants have survived blackberry freezes since 2019. I am zone 7b. Inside pots outdoors I grow albo hostas with lady ferns in twin gray pots. The hostas & ferns die back but return every spring. I place some pinestraw in the pots & I stop watering the hostas & ferns until spring. I grow bamboo in twin lime green giant pots with lava rocks as winterization. The bamboo sprouts new leaves from the aged canes in spring. I do not water the bamboo in the winter. They receive rain. I grow variegated English Ivy in several pots, that tolerates winter. In twin whiskey barrels I grow lilies (Forever Susan’s & El Desperado’s). I place pinestraw in the barrels & remove it in spring. Orange Queen tulips survive in pots, well. Muhly Grass tolerates freezes inside pots. I place pinestraw in the grass pots. My Variegated Privet in twin mustard colored pots survive freezes. Potted sedums (dwarf lemon citrus sedum & tri-colored sedum) die back but return in the spring. Pink Muhly Grass grows great in my giant blue outdoor pots. Many plants I winterize indoors. However, the plants I listed in this article are only a few of the options in outdoor potted plants surviving freezes. My suggestion is to reference on line the zone you are in and decide which plants can be safely left outdoors. You can always contact your County Extension Office. Another tip I will share is how great winter dried grasses inside outdoor pots can be decorated easily for the holidays. Add a vertical topiary frame, or iron/metal small trellis. Add your winter holly & greenery to the frame. And decorate the pot with festive bows, bells, etc.
Betty Clark is a contributing writer. She has been an organic gardener since 1998. The signature flower she grows is Dahlias. She has a straw bale garden, raised bed garden, and in-ground garden. Both her surnames are agricultural farming families (8 generations). Her hobbies include ancestry research, antiques, continued education classes, and workshops. She also has a background in marketing & promotions including expos. To contact Betty Clark with gardening questions: [email protected]
