Plants add life and vibrancy to any space, but some are better than others for the potted life on your apartment balcony. Check out which ones are most likely to thrive so you can be a successful plant parent!
Three Things to Consider: Weight, Exposure & Sun
Before you adopt your plants, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Weight:
Pots and soil get heavy fast. Be careful not to add too much weight to your apartment balcony. Consider buying lightweight compost and pots made out of plastic or resin rather than concrete or terracotta.
Exposure:
Look around. Is your apartment balcony sheltered from the wind and the elements? If not, you’ll need to create a barrier for your weaker plants to thrive (or survive, for that matter). This barrier can even be other (stronger) plants!
Sun:
Different plants require different levels of sun exposure. Try to judge how much sun your balcony gets on a daily basis. If it’s relatively shady, go for shade-loving plants. If it’s sunny for most of the day, get plants that can stand it.
12 Best Plants for an Apartment Balcony
Without further ado, and keeping these three conditions in mind, here are the plants best-suited for apartment life—apartment balcony life, that is!
#1: Herbs
Herbs are great for apartment balconies because they fit in relatively small containers. Plus, herbs look good, smell good, and taste good. What more could you want? For sunnier balconies, choose sage, thyme, or rosemary. For shady spots, you may want to opt for mint, parsley, or dill.
#2: Succulents
Succulents are some of the most resilient plants out there. If you have trouble remembering to water your indoor plants, and if your balcony gets a lot of sun, then these guys are for you. Popular varieties include aloe vera, agave, and cacti.
#3: Chrysanthemums
Mums, chrysanths, or chrysanthemums—it doesn’t matter what you call this beautiful flowering plant, its colorful varieties and adaptability make the chrysanthemum a perfect balcony plant for any garden.
#4: Begonias
Keep your begonias in light shade, water them consistently, and they’ll bloom for you year after year on your apartment balcony.
#5: Japanese Maple
The Japanese maple is a deciduous shrub or small tree. Though many varieties exist, the best ones for apartment balconies are small, leafy, and brightly-colored. A balcony that gets a lot of shade will be a good home for the Japanese maple.
#6: Strawberries
Give yourself something delicious to look forward to by planting a fruit like strawberries. They can be grown in pots, containers, and hanging baskets.
#7: Tomatoes
A warm, sunny balcony is always best for tomatoes, though these versatile red beauties can still grow under less-than-ideal conditions.
#8: Jasmine
Looking for the perfect scent of a summer evening spent relaxing on your apartment balcony? Jasmine is your answer.
#9: Daffodils
Bulbs, such as daffodils, grow well in pots because their root systems are shallow. Daffodils’ white or yellow pedals can also give your balcony a pop of color.
#10: Marigold
Resilient to outdoor pests, brightly-colored, and low maintenance—that’s how you could describe the marigold. Sound like a match made in heaven? We thought so.
#11: Lady’s Mantle
Lady’s Mantle is sometimes known as a vigorous perennial because it grows and grows…and grows. Keep yours tamed by containing it in a properly-sized pot.
#12: Petunias
When it comes to apartment balcony plants, the petunia may be top dog. Petunias come in several different colors and grow almost without any effort from you. They simply require good fertilization and lots of sun.
Plants can transform your apartment balcony from a dry, barren wasteland into a lush and vibrant garden. But your floral friends can’t work their magic if you don’t have the right apartment in the first place. Find the perfect apartment to plant your roots today by turning to ApartmentSearch.com.
