:strip_icc()/mandevilla-vine-porch-268157aa-7bc795b57de544058619ee8af963e2be.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,2227&ssl=1 "9 Colorful Plants That Will Thrive on Your Balcony")
Whether you have a large, sun-drenched rooftop terrace atop a high-rise or a small, shady apartment balcony, making the space more inviting with a few plants is easy. The selections here adapt well to life in a container, plus they hold up in the increased heat and wind of their location. When looking for the best plants for a balcony, start with these 9 outstanding plants.
Best Balcony Plant for Creating Privacy: Golden Bamboo
Any balcony owner who feels a little too close to their neighbors should add a few golden bamboo plants to the space. These perennial plants spread if not contained, so keep yours in a wooden or terra-cotta planter at least 24 inches deep and wide. Because golden bamboo is invasive in some areas of the country, specifically those in warmer regions, it’s best not to plant it in the ground.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil
Size: 8 to 20 feet tall
Zones: 6-10
Best Drought-Tolerant Balcony Plant: Succulents
Succulents are easy to care for houseplants, but they also can be excellent apartment balcony plants, especially for residents in warmer climates. Two groups that thrive in outdoor containers are sedums and sempervivums, also known as hens and chicks. Over-watering succulents can cause them to rot, so make sure to water about once a month or when the soil is dry. In the winter, or whenever temperatures reach freezing, take the containers indoors so the succulents can survive from season to season.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: Under 6 inches tall, 6 to 12 inches tall, and 1 to 3 feet tall
Zones: 3-10
Best Balcony Plant to Attract Hummingbirds: Fuchsia
This show-stopper is a hummingbird magnet and stunning balcony plant. There are a handful of different varieties of fuchsia, most of which bloom in gorgeous shades of pink and purple. Make sure to choose a heat-tolerant variety, as many fuchsias stop producing flowers when it is hot. These semi-trailers work well in hanging baskets and do best with consistently moist soil.
Growing Conditions: Full to part shade and moist, well-drained soil
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall
Zones: 8-10
Best Balcony Herb: Lavender
Several herbs do well on balconies, including lavender, thyme, and basil. Of these, lavender easily has the showiest flowers. This aromatic plant comes in hundreds of varieties that bloom in gorgeous shades of purple or white, so you can add color and a pleasant aroma to your balcony garden. Lavender is drought-, heat-, and wind-tolerant, too. Plus, you can harvest the flowers and leaves for flavoring food or use them in craft projects.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall
Zones: 5-10
Best Balcony Plant for Fragrance: Gardenia
Few flowers can compare to gardenias when it comes to fragrance. These evergreen plants produce pure white blooms with a strong, sweet scent that can be detected from a distance on a breezy day. However, gardenias need lots of humidity and well-drained soil to look their best. They can be short-lived because they attract insect pests and are prone to root rot. Even if your gardenia is only around a little while, it’s well worth it for that amazing fragrance.
Growing Conditions: Full to part shade in well-drained soil
Size: 3 to 8 feet tall
Zone: 8-10
Best Trailing Balcony Plant: Verbena
Another eye-catching balcony plant is verbena. This drought-tolerant flowering plant works well in window boxes or railing planters, where it can flow over the sides. There are many varieties of verbena in white, pink, red, blue, purple, and bicolor. Verbena is relatively easy to grow, although it can have trouble with mildew, which looks like a white powdery coating on the plant’s leaves. To minimize this disease, place the plant where it will have good airflow over it and avoid getting the foliage wet when watering.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall and 1 to 3 feet tall
Zones: 8-9
Best Flowering Balcony Plant for Full Sun: Geranium
Geraniums have been popular for decades and pair well with most other container plants. Also called zonal geraniums, these drought-tolerant plants come in many vibrant colors, including pink, red, orange, and purple. Depending on the variety, geraniums can be low-maintenance, although regal types can be a bit fussy. Whatever geranium you choose, don’t forget to deadhead the plant consistently to keep the blooms coming all season long.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall and 1 to 3 feet tall
Zones: 10-11
Best Flowering Balcony Plant for Shade: Begonia
Begonias come in all sorts of varieties, but among the showiest are angel wing and Rex begonias, which have colorful blooms and gorgeous foliage. These shade-loving plants prefer higher humidity and appreciate a consistent supply of water. The spent blooms and withered leaves are easy to snap off to keep the plants tidy.
Growing Conditions: Part to full shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Size: 12 to 18 inches tall
Zones: 10-11
Best Vining Balcony Plant: Mandevilla
The mandevilla vine is stunning and easy to care for. Usually, gardeners plant the heat-tolerant mandevilla as an annual because it dies when temperatures drop to freezing. You can overwinter the flowering vine indoors, but note that it is toxic if ingested, so keep it away from pets and children.
Growing Conditions: Full sun
Size: 3 to 20 feet tall or more depending on the variety
Zones: 10-11
