Finding plants for your balcony can be an exciting task, but there are two things you want to make sure of: they’re tough, and low-maintenance.
This is largely because balcony plants are hard to manage every day, and especially if they live there.
So, it’s safe to say, when you purchase balcony plants, you are looking for plants that you can put on your balcony and forget about them, except for perhaps some once a week watering.
The good news is, you have dozens of low-maintenance choices, so all you have to do is decide what you like and that’s it.
Low-maintenance balcony plants can include plants in hanging baskets, or pots, and will stand up to all the weather and things Mother Nature throws at them, while also looking good.
Some are flowering plants, and some are not. In summary, there’s such a variety that you shouldn’t have any problems finding something that you love.
1. English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
If you have a balcony that gets a lot of sun, and you enjoy vibrant colorful plants that have excellent scents, you’ll have to consider getting some English lavender plants.
They can certainly handle some drier climates once established, and they only need to be watered once a week.
They are somewhat toxic to animals, but they are easy to grow as you can grow them in plain potting soil.
If you have a balcony that has too much shade, then this will not work for you, as they need full sun, or very close to it to grow and survive.
Still, their classic purple flowers are lovely to see, and the scent is amazing!
2. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
Jade plant is a succulent and it’s practically impossible for it to freeze. In fact, it’s so simple to grow, it grows and becomes established in all sorts of condition.
You can place it in a sunny spot or part sunny spot, and it’s got gorgeous shaped leaves, it garners attention.
And as this is a succulent, it requires little water. Once a week watering is all you need, and during winter, even less.
It has a thick grey trunk, with fat leaves, and while it grows moderately, it will last for decades.
It is toxic to animals and you need only potting soil with a little sand mixed in for ideal growth.
3. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis Mill)
Aloe vera’s gotta be the best low-maintenance plant to grow. It’ll hardly ever need watering, it’s super hardy, and let’s not forget it has a number of DIY medicinal uses. This includes treating burns and skin conditions, among a ton of other things.
Aloe needs bright, but indirect light, and watering about every week or two. Always let body of the plant completely dry out before watering again.
And provided the potting mix drains well and contains some sand, it should grow like there’s no tomorrow on your patio or balcony.
The only thing you’ll want to pay attention to is that aloe vera is toxic to pets.
4. Fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica)
You see the fuchsia plant, with its bright blooms that hummingbirds especially love, in hanging baskets indoors and on balconies often!
Fuchsia plants are “heavy feeders” meaning they require fertilizer, but it will save you some time if you use a slow-release fertilizer.
Your fuchsia plant will need to be watered regularly and you don’t want it to dry out completely in between waterings unlike other plants!
Even Better, the fuchsia plant is non-toxic to pets and humans and simply needs regular potting soil to grow!
5. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum)
These guys are nice plants, which have brightly colored orange and yellow flowers and cool-looking leaves. But they’re more than just nice plants.
You can eat nasturtiums because they have a subtle peppery taste.
The most common use of these flowers is as a garnish in, yes of course you guessed it, a salad.
If you really give them a lot of sun and water, they’re going to explode with growth and as long as you use potting soil that drains, they’re going to do really well.
They’re non toxic to pets and they’re going to grow like crazy, but I do want to share one word of caution.
If you’re going to plant nasturtiums in a pot with another plant, be careful because they will usually take over the space and cascade down the side of the pot!
6. Lemon Tree (Citrus limonia)
The lemon tree is easy to grow in the garden, not to mention it looks and smells great.
They like lots of sun but do not like to freeze.
Actually, they are very much heat-loving plants, that only need light soil that have good drainage.
If you stick them in full sun and keep them consistently watered, they will grow and thrive, and especially so if you keep them in pots and containers.
They will need a lot of fertilizer and are toxic to pets, but plant enthusiasts will enjoy them on the balcony.
7. Marigold (Tagetes)
Marigolds are real show-stoppers. Their yellow and orange flowers add so much color to someone’s garden or balcony.
However, they’re not planted in just any soil they need good soil that drains well and is watered regularly. They also prefer full sun and are pet safe.
Marigolds can self-seed meaning they might bloom again the following year if they remain in the same soil.
Why We Like It: Not only are marigolds easy to grow, but their color means that they will outshine almost everything else in your garden or on your balcony.
8. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Boston ferns are good for partial shade balconies and make wonderful hanging baskets.
They look terrific in pots too, so they are not limited to just hanging.
Boston ferns grow about three feet, so you will want to have some room for them.
You will need to water frequently, but only when the soil is dry first. The best part is that they are non-toxic to pets and humans.
Use quality potting soil that’s rich in organic matter and able to hold moisture.
9. Hosta (Hosta)
Hostas need shade and/or partial sun, so don’t shout them out in the full sun.
They have large green leaves that can be variegated or all green and their lovely lavender flowers go great with the leaves.
They like rich potting soil kept damp but not soggy, so water regularly but not too much. Unfortunately, they’re toxic to pets.
10. Mint (Mentha sp.)
Fresh mint is simply unbeatable because of its multitude of uses.
You could muddle it for your mojito or add it to your salads. Mint is also easy to grow in pots and containers.
Just be sure to regularly water and put it in a place where it gets sun.
If you’re growing it on your balcony with little sun, try and look for mint with variegated leaves, as they tolerate the shade much better, though mint is poisonous to pets.
11. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Rosemary is tough and can endure much of winter weather.
It grows fast and prefers the sun, but can tolerate less water.
You will only need to water rosemary every week to two, and you will want some light, draining potting soil.
Rosemary is also non-toxic to animals and can be sprinkled over top of many things, including roasted potatoes with butter.
Final Thoughts
As you can see you might feel cramped for space in your apartment with only a balcony but that doesn’t limit what type of plants you can grow.
I have even seen in Italy, up on the top balcony, rows of Olive trees in pots.
So, get creative with your planting options for windy balconies.