Plant suggestions for an East facing window box.

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That's it really. I want purple/lilac/mauve/blue/pale pink colours.

The problem is that it is east facing so is in complete shade in the afternoon, whereas everything pretty seems to need full sun.

I thought a window box was an easy thing to plan, but in actual fact I am massively indecisive so am currently paralysed and therefore need some input.

Many thanks for any ideas.

If you like purple, these little creeping campanulas are fantastic. And unlike most annual bedding plants that need sun and die off in the winter, these will come back year after year AND can handle anything up to full shade. They also come in paler blue and white. They're pretty common so you should be able to get them at any garden centre. I would combine them with some minature lavender which prefers sun but will handle shade and will give you fragrance. Keep it simple, stick to 2 plant types in different shades and you'll be fine.

Are you sure about the lavender? That would be excellent if I could use that as the evergreen bit of the box. I love campanulas too, I just thought they were for sun only! I am quite excited that i could use them both.

Thank you so much for your input. I will probably go and do precisely what you suggest.

Yes. 100% sure. Pretty much everything prefers full sun but there's a big differece between that and what they can handle. If they're in shade half the day they will proobably be a bit shorter, but that's all. I have the creeping campanula in wwindow boxes on a shady wall and they are fabulous (and on year 3). They won't die on you . The trick with the lavender is to use real soil based compost and plenty of grit as the one thing that is sure to kill lavender is wet roots. Then at the end of the season cut the lavender hard (not onto bare wood but down to the last few green bits) that'll make sure they stay bushy and come good again the following year.

That sounds like a lovely combination, and perennial too which is always great value for money. If you fancied something a bit more flamboyant you could include any hardy geraniums - they would be totaly happy in an east facing window box, or some violas. Violas are better than pansies IMO as they seem that bit more refined and will keep on flowering for ages and ages as long as you deadhead them.