Winter basket and window box plants that thrive on neglect

[blueberrycherubandbump]

I have a large window box and 40 inch basket that I've finally admitted have died. I'm not the best gardener but do enjoy it when I remember.

I like simplicity, I don't want to deadhead or replant mid season. I'm not even that bothered about flowers. One of my most successful boxes so far has been loads of different coloured hucheras (sp?). The only things that survived in the basket this year were trailing succulents, meaning yes I did actually kill off several ivy plants 😳

Any suggestions would be amazing please as my googling has just confused meore. Thanks

I used to have a couple of good window boxes which were simply heathers with a couple of hardy cyclamen. Heathers chosen for leaf colour, eg including yellow varieties, or where the new growth has white/pink tips. Mustn’t met them dry out but otherwise trouble free.

Thank you. I have been known to kill heathers pretty swiftly. Cyclamen look rather lovely.

Cyclamen die in baskets here and don't do well in the ground either despite care.

Viola are a safe bet.

Ah not for me then. I've just found a freckle variety of viola which is lovely. I think maybe an evergreen trailing shrub/greenery and just the 1 colour of flowers would look nice

Which cyclamen are you using? Cyclamen persicum are widely sold and are not hardy. I was using the hardy C. hederifolium and C. coum. If I can grow them in a frost hollow in Yorkshire there aren’t that many places in England where they are not hardy.

Or are they dying in baskets because of inconsistent watering?

Just personal taste, but I'd try nandina domestica for pretty evergreen (red tinged) foliage with Erigeron karvinskianus for small, tumbling daisy-like flowers. Both tolerate some neglect. I think they'd look pretty together.
And there are always pelargoniums, grow each summer then chuck out and replace the following year. Lots of reliable colour and many different ones.

How about a bunch of different Sempervivems? Even the name is optimistic. 😄

Sorry, Sempervivums.

Oooh bamboo. That's an interesting curve ball. SURELY I can't kill bamboo.

I had a lovely Sarah Raven winter window box set that was violas with anemones. Looked absolutely gorgeous for one year with zero upkeep but then sadly didn’t come back much due to my profound ability to neglect containers.
I'm impressed that you’ve killed ivy!

It's not actually a bamboo! 😂 I know it's other name is sacred bamboo but it's not related. I've got two in pots they're really sweet and pretty slow growing, so I'm guessing they'd be happy in window boxes.

Ah, ok. See this is my problem I am clueless . Well I've committed to the sacred boo for the window box, just need to sort th basket now. Thank you

Multiple times!

@blueberrycherubandbump I just ventured outside and took a couple of pics each of my nandinas in pots to show you. Close ups of the redder leaves. I think - I could be wrong - more light would increase the red leaf colouration. Mine are quite shaded under trees.

They're lovely. Thank you

How about the small varieties of Hebes? I’ve a little one waiting to be put in a trough when the summer bedding goes.
I also put a small fir as a focal point in my hanging basket. It usually lasts 2 - 3 years before getting too large. It is as important to put in water retaining gel in winter baskets as it is in summer ones. This might help the plants live.