15 Best Balcony Plants to Dress Up Your Space
These blooms add color and beauty, no backyard necessary.
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Greenery and blooms bring equal parts color and charm to any apartment balcony, extending the coziness of your home outdoors. Whether the space is large or small, sunny or shady, north-facing or east-facing, a set of planters and plants is sure to beautify your space and make it all the more inviting for you and anyone who visits. Flowers in window boxes or containers can also bring natural fragrance and attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. There are plenty of edible herb and veggie options for you too. (And to bring the greenery indoors too, check out these living room plants and bathroom plants too.)
But first some planting tips to keep in mind: Before deciding what to buy, note how much sunlight your balcony gets during the day. Full sun means six or more hours of direct sunlight, while part sun is half that. Some balconies also may be full shade. A plant label or description will tell you if it prefers sun or shade, so you can select the best plants accordingly. If your balcony is covered, make sure you water your plants regularly. Remember containers or pots made of terra cotta, coco fiber, or other porous materials dry out fast, while those made of plaster, metal or other less permeable materials dry out more slowly. If a plant's soil feels wet to the touch, hold off watering for now.
And now for 15 balcony plants to inspire you to get to planting to make your outdoor retreat complete!
Lavender
Sunny balconies beg for potted lavender! These perennials bloom for a long time and offer a wonderful perfume that will transport you to the Mediterranean. Lavender needs full sun.
Fuchsia
These stunning annuals in shades of pink, red, or purple are best displayed in hanging baskets and window boxes. Hummingbirds and butterflies adore them! Fuchsia needs full shade.
Sweet Alyssum
If you’ve never planted this darling annual, you’re missing out! Sweet alyssum has delicate, sweetly scented blooms and flowers from spring to frost. Best of all, pollinators adore it! Give it room to cascade down the sides of planters or hanging baskets, and keep it watered. It needs sun but tolerates some shade.
Caladium
Caladium is grown for its striking heart-shaped leaves and vibrant lime green and hot pink or red markings. Caladiums range in height from about 10 inches tall to 2 feet tall, which is why it's important to read the label first so you give it a pot that’s large enough for it to spread out. It needs part shade to shade.
New Guinea Impatiens
With cheery shades ranging from peach to hot pink, New Guinea impatiens are a reliable choice for long-season color. They don’t need to be deadheaded (pinched back) to encourage flowering until frost. These annuals tend to do best in pots, rather than in hanging baskets, which are difficult to keep watered in the heat of summer. These need part shade to shade.
Lobelia
Low-growing blue, purple, or white lobelia looks amazing cascading from containers and baskets. It blooms best before nighttime temperatures get too warm. If the plant stops flowering, trim it back and it'll rebound when cool weather returns. Lobelia likes morning sun and afternoon shade, but it will also do okay in mostly shade.
Hibiscus
Need a tropical getaway? The exotic blooms and rich colors of hibiscus make a beautiful addition to a balcony garden. Read the label to make sure you’re giving them plenty of space, as some varieties become quite large. Some can be overwintered indoors, though it’s a bit tricky because they need full sun.
Torenia
Also called wishbone flower, torenia is an appealing purple, pink, white or two-tone combination that resembles snapdragons. These trailing annuals last from spring to fall, and hummingbirds love them! They need shade or part sun.
Rose
Roses are easier to grow than you suspect. Choose a miniature variety or a shrub rose, which will thrive in pots. Make sure it gets at least six hours of sun for best blooms.
Herbs
Herbs are the perfect low-maintenance addition to any balcony, and you can snip off a bit for cooking whenever you like. If you have full sun, choose basil and rosemary. For part sun, cilantro and chives are good choices. Herbs need sun to shade, depending on the type.
Mandevilla
This tropical climber loves the heat! It comes in shades of pinks and reds and needs a trellis to grow upright. In cold climates, you can bring it indoors (though it tends to shed leaves with lower light levels). Mandevilla needs mostly sun, but shield it from hot afternoon sun in warm climates.
Hydrangea
There’s no reason you can’t grow these stunning shrubs in pots on your balcony. Look for dwarf varieties, and make sure to choose a large pot made from a material that won’t freeze and crack in cold climates. Some varieties tolerate more sun than others, so read the plant tag. Hydrangeas need part sun to shade.
Heuchera
This lesser-known perennial, also called coral bells, has striking leaf colors in every shade, from the deepest reds to lime green to pale coral. The small flower spikes are not flashy, but the plant is striking and does surprisingly well in pots. Heuchera needs sun or shade.
Pansies and Violas
Ready for some color in early spring? Pansies and violas with their cheery "faces" and bright colors ranging from deep purple to oranges and yellows will make you smile! They prefer cooler temperatures, so plant these in spring and they'll last until it gets super-hot. They also may rebound in fall if you trim the spent flowers back and keep them shaded until cooler temperatures return. They need mostly sun.
Lettuce
Yes! Lettuce! Grow some fresh mesclun right on a sunny balcony. There are hundreds of varieties, they're easy to grow, and you need only a window box or two (their roots are shallow). Keep it moist while it's sprouting, and trim (don't pull!) the pieces off as they mature. It will produce until super-hot weather arrives. Lettuce needs mostly sun.
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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