The key to transforming your balcony in a mini oasis is to select plants suitable for your space conditions. Therefore, before going after the perfect species, make an assessment. Is there more shade or sun? Is the area exposed or sheltered?
We separate some varieties that adapt to different scenarios. If you’re interested in bringing in some large seedlings, it’s also important to check with your building owner or a structural engineer how much weight your porch can support.
If this is your first time gardening, start small – get a few plants and a few pots. Choosing the right types, your little green corner will be as rich in foliage and flowers as in larger gardens! Meet 23 compact types:
1. Santolina
The compact size and rounded look make it a good choice for window container ideas on balconies where space is often at a premium. Most varieties have aromatic, silvery foliage complemented by yellow button in summer, but Santolina rosmarinfolia offers green foliage.
2. Jasmine
O jasmine go perfume your outdoor area, in addition to making it even more beautiful. They are “hungry” plants, so use a rich compost and line the bottom of the container with a sheet of newspaper to help retain moisture and nutrients. Position the pot in a sheltered corner and let the long stems grow along the walls.
3. Zinnia elegans “Queen Red Lime”
This fun variety is easy to grow and its vibrant flowers really stand out against a backdrop of greenery. If you water and use fertilizer for tomatoes, they will bloom from summer until the first frosts.
4. Geranium
You geraniums cope well with hot and dry conditions. The scented varieties add extra interest – ‘Attar of Roses’ is one of the best for this. The types that grow on vines are great for the sides of your small garden.
5. Lavender
This drought-tolerant flower is a super balcony species. Lavender’s aromatic silvery foliage and compact growth make it perfect for pots and other containers – meaning you can enjoy the species even when you’re short on growing space.
English lavender (L.angustifolia) is the toughest and has the longest-lasting flowers. French lavender (L. stoechas) is smaller and more tender, but with thicker flowers.
6. Sun-loving grasses
These low-maintenance seedlings offer a contrast in texture. For a stylish coastal or contemporary look, try adding Nassella tenuissima planted with eryngium (sea holly) and Gaura lindheimeri. For an even more enhanced setting, include wooden decks and planters.
miscanthus sinensis it has elegant, arching half-green leaves and striking feathers that look good in winter. Helictotrichon sempervirens it looks great in silver pots with its blue evergreen leaves and straw-colored plumes.
7. Maritime Armory
Maritime Armeria grows on coastal cliffs, so it’s a great choice for windy environments. Its low-growing evergreen tufts add year-round texture and structure, and the pretty cup-shaped pink or white flowers, which emerge on long stems each spring, make attractive displays.
The flowers are rich in nectar and pollen and attract bees and other pollinators. You can add a crushed seashell topping to help retain moisture and give it a seaside vibe too.
8. Hebe
Its tough, leathery leaves handle wind and drought well, and naturally look like they’ve been cut, meaning you don’t have to worry about pruning! Fortunately, they don’t require a lot of water or fertilizer. hebe rakaiensis it has clusters of large white flowers in early summer, while the ‘Heartbreaker’ variety has slender variegated leaves that turn pink during the cooler months.
9. Dwarf pines
These hardy evergreen branches will add great character to a sunny area without taking up space. Unlike their full-sized versions, most dwarf types grow slowly or reach a small size at maturity, making them perfect for container growing.
10. Campanula
These home garden seedlings are tougher than they look, especially the Campanula carpatica It is Campanula portenschlagiana. They require little attention and tolerate a lack of nutrients and water, in addition to coping with partial shade.
A relatively new compact variety is ‘Porto’. It has foliage with small purple bell flowers and is great in small pots. It will bloom all spring and summer if kept well watered. A Campanula glomerata it has clusters and rich purple flowers on the long stems. Cut after flowering to prevent self-seeding and encourage more flowers.
11. Ferns
Ferns have an impressive architectural quality that makes them good enough to grow on their own. Perfect if you prefer the minimalist look or don’t want to spend a lot of time caring for many different species.
Grow them in taller containers so you can better admire their graceful, arching leaves. Since they don’t have very deep roots, you can fill the bottom of the pot with broken pieces of polystyrene, which will reduce the weight of the compost. the varieties Dryopteris cope well with dry conditions and Dryopteris erythrosora it has beautiful bronze leaves in spring that deepen to medium green in summer.
12. Salad leaf
If there is a shady corner in your outdoor area and you like to grow vegetables, why not grow your own tasty salad leaves? Lettuce, mustard leaf, radish and spinach prefer a cooler environment and away from direct sunlight.
Choose vases with at least 15 to 20 cm deep so that the branches can develop a decent root system. Make sure there are drainage holes and place a drip tray underneath.
13. Board
many types of japanese maples they are ideal for containers as they grow slowly and form impressive focal points. They come in dozens of beautiful colors and leaf shapes. ‘Going Green’ has luminous green leaves in spring and summer, with lovely hues in autumn. They are hardy, but do best in a sheltered spot without too much wind and are happy in the shade.
14. Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’
This species produces elegant spikes of flowers above narrow grey-green leaves. You can apply a high-potassium fertilizer in the summer to keep the flowers looking good, but it will handle poorer soil well. In addition, they like the sun, but tolerate some shade throughout the day. It is also a great bee-friendly plant.
15. Daisies
In addition to being beautiful, daisies are happy in sunny, dry, and windy conditions. They are also a magnet for bees and butterflies. On a porch, naturally low-growing varieties like Cape Daisy and Gazania are great, but Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) has strong, flexible stems and copes with windy conditions.
16. Gaura lindheimeri
When swaying in the breeze, the starry white or pinkish flowers, borne on slender stems, look like butterflies in flight. They are great for filling in gaps and blend well with grasses. Replace seedlings every three years to maintain a healthy appearance. They prefer a warm, sunny position, but will tolerate some shade.
17. Thyme ‘Silver Posie’
Compact perennial herbs like oregano, thyme and rosemary they are excellent in small herb gardens because they handle heat and drought well – and they smell great too!
Bees love the flowers and regular trimming of the tender stems will keep the plants bushy and provide herbs for cooking. If your corner has partial shade, try the mint (there are many interesting types to choose from, such as chocolate, pineapple and banana).
18. Capuchin
The nasturtiums have edible flowers and make wonderful decorations on cakes. They grow very fast and cultivation is easy. Water them well while they are becoming established and apply a high-potassium fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Sow them in outdoor all-purpose compost in late spring, or buy large branches in summer.
19. Magnolia
Some of the most magnificent magnolia trees grow slowly enough to be planted in containers. magnolia grandiflora it is a popular choice with garden designers for its large green leaves, which are tan on the underside.
Magnolia stellata ‘Water Lily’ has fragrant white flowers, while Magnolia stellata ‘Susan’ has attractive purple flowers and makes a good focal point. Full sun to partial shade is best and remember to prune after flowering to keep them compact.
20. Evonym
Robust and reliable, the varieties Euonymus japonicus are a safe choice for balcony plants. ‘Green Spire’ looks elegant in wooden containers and has bright green leaves all year round.
It will do a good job of filtering the wind, providing some shelter for other seedlings behind. euonymus likes full sun, but tolerates full or partial shade. euonymus planipes it has a graceful shape and a stunning autumn leaf color. This slow-growing tree can be grown in a large container and cut into topiary shapes.
21. Phormium
Hardy and undemanding, phormium, also known as New Zealand flax, tolerates a range of conditions. They instantly create a focal point in a space, especially if planted in taller pots so their graceful, arching leaves can be better admired.
Remove all dead leaves in the spring and add a pinch of fertilizer in the top layer of compost. Most are hardy, but less so in containers. Therefore, if you live in a cold region, move the branches close to a winter-protected wall if possible.
22. Nandina Domestica
This low-maintenance species displays bronze-colored leaves in spring, beautiful white flowers in summer, and bright red berries in fall.
Commonly known as celestial bamboo, it is not actually a bamboo but has similar qualities with narrow evergreen foliage on arching stems. ‘Firepower’ is low growing and blends well with grasses, pines and evergreens. ‘Obsessed’ is a taller variety at 70 cm, good for creating privacy.
23. Bamboo
Grow it to filter the wind and create a natural screen. Be prepared to move the bamboo into a large pot or divide it every few years to keep it healthy. Fargesia ‘Lava’ and ‘Simba’ are compact enough for small corners.
*Via Gardening Etc