Many types of perennials not only significantly enhance the garden, but also the balcony and terrace. You can find out in this article which varieties are suitable and which plants tend not to tolerate cultivation in pots.
Which perennials are suitable for the balcony?
Dwarf phlox, lavender, gray cranesbill and girl's eye are suitable for sunny balconies. Sunny to partially shaded areas benefit from bluebells and cushion asters, while elfin flowers and hostas are ideal for shady balconies. Delphiniums and peonies are not suitable for container cultivation.
General recommendations for perennial beds on the balcony
Depending on how small or large the balcony or terrace that is to receive a plant refreshment is, the size and number of perennials must be adjusted accordingly.
Recommendation: On a small balcony, you can create a beautiful sight with two to three pots of pretty perennials standing next to each other or, alternatively, arranged in tiers. It's best to use pots that either look the same or are at least made of the same material.
In addition, when choosing perennials for the balcony, you must take into account what the climate is like on the balcony. Example: Ideally, you should decorate a very warm balcony (particularly intense sunlight) with robust, sun-hungry plants (e.g. sedum, saint's wort, gypsophila or lavender).
These perennials look great on the balcony
Here is a small overview of perennials that thrive well in pots and don't grow too big, so they are perfect for the balcony and/or terrace:
For sunny balconies
- Phlox as a dwarf variety
- Upholstered phlox
- Lavender (exudes Mediterranean flair)
- Carpet Yarrow
- Gray cranesbill (extremely flowery, stays green even in winter)
- various types of carnations (such as spring carnation, peony carnation, seaweed)
- Blue pillow
- Girl's eye (strongly reminiscent of sunflowers, very easy to care for)
For sunny to partially shaded balconies
- Bluebells (such as dwarf bluebells, Carpathian bluebells, hanging cushion bluebells)
- Blue Gentian
- Pillowaster
For shady balconies
- Elf Flower
- Funkia (white-edged hosta, narrow-leaf hosta)
These perennials don't want to go on the balcony
Not all perennials are suitable for container cultivation. Plants that require high levels of water, fertilization and care should only be used for perennial beds in the garden. Examples of such perennials are the delphinium and the peony. Their roots reach deep into the ground, so a bucket is simply too small. In addition, delphiniums in such cramped conditions are particularly susceptible to being attacked by mildew. You should also not keep perennials that are particularly sensitive to waterlogging in pots.
Another note: Bulbs such as daffodils and tulips are also not useful for balconies and terraces. These plants do not survive the cold winter in containers.
