15 plants for your veranda and loggia

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Henri Salvador dreamed of lace and teapots for his winter garden. Personally, if I were lucky enough to have a glass room sheltered from the cold, I'd put in there all the plants I can't grow at home: species that are too fragile to spend the winter outside, varieties that are too warm in my apartment and all those that love light. Until I make my dream come true, here's a list of 15 plants for your veranda or loggia.

#1 Bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolaï and Strelitzia reginae)

If you're short on space, opt for Strelitzia reginae, which is smaller than Strelitzia nicolaï - Photo by Ed Whitaker / Flickr

Strelitzia can be grown for its intense green foliage. But let's face it, when you invest in this South African plant, it's in the hope of seeing its multicolored, birdlike flowers bloom.

Strelitzia reginae needs a cool, resting period to flower. The plant needs winter temperatures of between 10 and 15°C for flower buds to appear. A veranda or loggia, even an unheated one, will provide the ideal light and conditions for abundant flowering.

#2 Aeonium arboreum Schwarzkopf

Aeonium is not resistant to sub-zero temperatures - Photo by Manuel M V / Flickr

Are you dreaming of the black foliage of aeonium 'Zwartkop, but your living room is too hot and your terrace too cold for a specimen? Move to an apartment with a loggia or veranda!

Aeonium arboreum thrives in winter. However, the plant doesn't need much to reveal its full beauty. Just water it once the substrate has dried out completely, i.e. Once a month or so.

#3 Citrus

For year-round plants and flowers, choose a four-season citrus tree - Photo by Joe Mabel / Wikipedia

The calamondin is the only citrus that can withstand our heated homes. Other shrubs, such as lemon tree, orange tree and Kumquat should be grown outside and brought in frost-free in late autumn. Rather than moving your pots twice a year, turn your veranda into an orange grove. Your plants will receive all the light they need to produce flowers and fruit.

Whether indoors or out, citrus trees remain susceptible to disease and pest attack. To prevent the appearance of smoke, fungus or mealybugs, ventilate regularly. Also, space out the planters so that the leaves of different plants don't touch.

#4 The flytrap Dionaea (Dionaea muscipula)

Don't put your fingers in the trap of the Dionaea muscipula, you risk causing its death - Photo by Carnivorasland / Flickr

Dionaea muscipula is not a tropical plant. It comes to us from North Carolina. Its jaw-shaped traps thrive in a climate with marked seasons, with hot summers and cooler winters. In this southern U.S. State, July is much warmer than at home, and the mercury rarely dips below zero. An unheated veranda or loggia will therefore suit its growing conditions!

Dionée loves humidity, but cannot tolerate limestone. Water it exclusively with rainwater, demineralized or osmosis water. Never use tap water, or even mineral water. You'll kill your plant.

#5 Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis)

In the West Indies, a bougainvillea is thought to bring bad luck indoors. To be on the safe side, leave yours on the veranda. Photo by Ryan Somma / Flickr

You only have to look at the delicate pink, white or fuchsia flowers of Bougainvillea spectabilis to understand that it's a fragile plant, unable to withstand frost when placed in the garden. Sheltered in a heated or unheated veranda, the shrub will make it through the winter without a hitch.

Bougainvilleas are climbing plants. You can place a trellis on the wall so that the branches cling to it. However, there's nothing to stop you opting for an original stake, fan-shaped, columnar or even an arch!

#6 Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica)

Remember to prune your prickly pear from time to time - Photo by Joe Mabel / Wikipedia

It's not always easy to go on vacation in the sun when the weather's gloomy. If you can't afford a week at the beach in Tulum, buy yourself an Opuntia ficus-indica and install it on your veranda. Its round, snowshoe-like leaves will keep you warm.

Cacti have a reputation for being undemanding plants. And it's true. They can survive all winter without a drop of water and last all summer with one or two waterings. But if you want your Opuntia ficus-indica to be in top form, water it regularly and give it cactus and succulent fertilizer between March and October.

#7 Papyrus (Cyperus Papyrus)

If the tips of the leaves turn brown, it's because the plant is thirsty - Photo by Drew Avery / Flickr

Papyrus dreads the sub-zero temperatures experienced in our gardens in winter. And indoors, its soil dries out so quickly that you feel as if you've spent your life watering it. If you want to enjoy its umbels of evergreen leaves without too much effort, put it in your veranda. The temperature and light will suit it perfectly.

Cloclo isn't the only one who can drink the whole Nile. Papyrus is also a real thirst-quencher. Place your plant and its pot on a dish filled with water. Remember to refill the saucer every time the water level drops, so it's never empty.

#8 Nepenthes

Does your Nepenthe give off a pleasant fragrance? It's the nectar it uses to attract insects - Photo by Daderot / Wikipedia

Nepenthes, like nepenthes ventrata or nepenthes alata, require a lot of light to produce their colorful urns. What's more, they don't appreciate the dry, heated atmosphere of our homes in winter. A veranda or loggia, as long as the thermometer doesn't fall below 10°C, is the perfect place for them.

Nepenthes do not tolerate direct sunlight. If your veranda faces south, keep your carnivorous plant away from the glass. Otherwise, place it in the shade of a taller plant.

#9 Brazilian jasmine (Mandevilla sanderi)

As well as being beautiful, Jasmine flowers are edible - Photo by Tatiana Maksimova / Inaturalist

With a name like that, you can imagine that Brazilian jasmine won't survive the winter in Alsace or even the autumn in the Alps. Some choose to grow it as an annual, in the garden, so they can still admire its fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers. On the other hand, if you have a veranda or loggia, you'll be able to keep your Dipladenia de Sander for several years.

Brazilian jasmine requires a rich, well-drained substrate. Plant yours in potting soil for Mediterranean plants and feed it with a fertilizer for flowering plants between March and October. You'll get more blooms!

#10 Frangipani (Plumeria)

Frangipani flowers have a fragrance reminiscent of almond or vanilla - Photo by Hafiz Issadeen / Flickr

Someone brought me a frangipani from Madeira and I killed it. Well, the cold killed it. If I'd had a veranda, it would have made it through the winter without a care, and by May I'd have had waxy, sweet-scented flowers.

The frangipani is a deciduous tree. So don't worry if its limbs fall off in November. New leaves will grow back in the spring. But if your shrub is bare in midsummer, you've probably got a problem! It could be a lack of light, poor watering or lack of fertilization. To find out more, read our article on why my plant's leaves are falling off.

#11 Dicksonia antarctica

This fern looks like a palm tree - Photo by Alex Lomas / Flickr

Dicksonia antarctica can withstand sub-zero temperatures if its fronds and stipe are protected from the cold. In addition to being very tedious, this operation requires cutting off the fronds. By placing your tree fern in a veranda, you can let the foliage grow for years and have a plant with leaves over two meters long!

dicksonia antarctica loves humidity, but hates wet roots. When watering, don't flood the substrate. Pour the water directly into the heart of the fronds. It will trickle down the trunk and the surplus will moisten the soil, but not excessively.

#12 Boat orchid (Cymbidium)

Flower color depends on variety - Photo by Maja Dumat / Flickr

Boat orchid can be grown indoors. However, it thrives best in a loggia or veranda. In fact, its flower clusters are more numerous when it experiences temperature variations between day and night.

The cymbidium orchid likes narrow spaces. You'll need to repot it every three years on average, once the roots and pseudobulbs have colonized the entire pot. Take this opportunity to separate the stump and get new plants!

#13 Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

If the leaves are hanging, your plant is thirsty - Photo by Followyournose / Flickr

A Mediterranean plant par excellence, common Basil is too cold to overwinter outdoors, even in pots. And indoors, it generally receives too little light to grow. On the other hand, in a heated veranda (the mercury must not fall below 18°C), it can thrive and provide you with enough to make your own pesto.

Harvesting begins in June, just before flowering. This is when the leaves are at their most beautiful and tasty! It's best to pick as you go, according to your needs. However, resist the temptation to harvest them all to garnish your salads. Keep at least a third of the foliage so that your aromatic plant can continue to grow.

#14 Florist's azalea (Rhododendron indicum)

Varieties with pink, white, purple or red flowers -Photo by Said Jimenez / iNarutralist

The florist's azalea doesn't do well in the garden or in the home: it can't tolerate temperatures below 5°C, and its flower buds fall off if the winter is too warm. On the other hand, it lives its best life in your conservatory. In spring, you'll be delighted to see its star-shaped flowers bloom.

Azaleas love humidity. Place your pot on a dish filled with moist clay balls to increase humidity. Also mist your plant's foliage with non-calcareous water.

#15 Rabbit ear cactus (Opuntia microdasys)

Blue and green, it's almost like being in the Majorelle garden - Photo by João Paulo Corrêa de Carvalho / Flickr

Like many succulents, Opuntia microdasys can withstand sub-zero temperatures, provided it stays dry. A difficult challenge to meet in most French gardens. If you don't live in Provence or Corsica, it's best to install your cactus and its Mickey ears in a veranda. It will benefit from plenty of light without getting too wet.

We advise you to water your Opuntia microdasys only when the soil has completely dried out. In winter, this can mean a single monthly watering. If you're worried about forgetting your Rabbit ear cactus and letting it die of thirst, download the Monstera app. You'll have access to our maintenance tips and we'll send you a notification to remind you when to take out your watering can.

By Servane Nemetz
on 10-05-2024 at 13h19