Best Plants for an Apartment Balcony:12 Easy Plants

Q: What plants work well on a shady apartment balcony?

Good choices for a shady apartment balcony include ferns, hostas, heucheras, lobelia, fuchsia, sweet alyssum, and New Guinea impatiens. Some herbs such as mint, parsley, and chives also tolerate part shade and can still provide fresh foliage in lower light conditions.

Q: How many plants should I start with on my balcony?

A practical starting point is three to five containers. This is enough to make the balcony feel green without becoming overwhelming while you learn how much light, wind, and heat your space gets. Once those plants are thriving, you can gradually add more.

Q: Do I need special pots or soil for balcony plants?

You do not need specialty containers, but balcony plants should be grown in pots with drainage holes filled with a high-quality potting mix. Potting mix is lighter and drains better than garden soil, which is important for both root health and balcony weight limits. Self-watering pots or watering spikes can make watering easier and more consistent.

Q: How do I protect balcony plants from strong wind and weather?

To protect balcony plants from wind and weather, group containers together for stability, place them in corners or near walls, and use heavier pots or rail-mounted planters where necessary. Add simple windbreaks such as trellises or screens. During very hot weather, increase watering and, if possible, move plants out of harsh afternoon sun. In cold weather, bring tender plants indoors or insulate containers to prevent root damage.

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Discover the best plants for an apartment balcony and turn even the tiniest outdoor space into a green, relaxing retreat. Whether you’re after herbs for dinner, flowers for color, or easy edibles, you can absolutely garden in the city—with the right plants in the right pots.

Best Plants for an Apartment Balcony – Key Takeaways 🌿

🌞 Match plants to your light (full sun, part shade, or mostly shade) for fewer problems and better growth.

🪴 Start with compact, container-friendly plants like herbs, small flowers, and dwarf edibles.
💧 Use good potting mix, drainage, and simple watering habits to keep balcony plants happy.
🌬 Plan for wind, heat, and weight limits so your balcony garden is safe and low-stress.

You don’t need a big yard to enjoy real plants. With a few smart choices, your balcony can be packed with scent, color, and fresh food—without turning into a jungle you can’t manage.

Table of Contents

🌿 Best Plants for an Apartment Balcony

Apartment living and balcony gardening actually go together really well. Containers let you grow herbs, flowers, and even strawberries right outside your door. The trick is to:

✅ Match each plant to your light (full sun vs part shade vs shade).

✅ Choose compact, “balcony-sized” varieties that won’t outgrow their pots.
✅ Use lightweight containers and potting mix so you don’t overload the balcony.

If you’re not sure about container basics yet, you can always pair this post with: How To Start a Balcony Garden and your main hub, Balcony Gardening: Comprehensive Guide.

🌞 Best Plants for Sunny Apartment Balconies

If your balcony gets 6–8 hours of direct sun, you can grow classic Mediterranean herbs, flowers, and even a few fruits. Containers dry out faster in full sun, so you’ll water more often—but the payoff is huge.

Strawberries 🍓

Strawberries are perfect for a sunny balcony—they stay compact and reward you with sweet fruit in a small space.

🌞 Light: Full sun (at least 6 hours).
🪴 Container: Hanging baskets, long railing planters, or a deep pot.

💧 Water: Keep the soil evenly moist; they hate drying out completely.

Lavender

Lavender loves sun, drains fast, and smells amazing every time you brush past it.

🌞 Light: Full sun.
🪴 Container: A pot with lots of drainage; use well-draining potting mix.

💧 Water: Let the top of the soil dry between waterings—lavender hates soggy roots.

Jasmine

Jasmine gives you a living perfume machine on the balcony. It can be grown as a small shrub or trained up a trellis.

🌞 Light: Full sun to light afternoon shade.
🪴 Container: A sturdy pot with a small trellis or railing support.

💧 Water: Keep evenly moist, especially in containers that dry quickly in heat.

Hydrangeas (For Larger Balconies)

Hydrangeas can work on a balcony if you have room for a larger, heavier container and partial sun.

🌞 Light: Morning sun, afternoon shade is ideal.
🪴 Container: Big, sturdy pot and good-quality potting mix.
💧 Water: They like consistent moisture—don’t let them dry out completely.

🌥 Best Plants for Part-Shade & Shady Balconies

No full sun? No problem. Many balcony gardeners actually have more shade than they think—thanks to tall buildings and overhangs. You can still grow beautiful plants if you pick shade-tolerant types.

Hostas and heucheras (coral bells) are great leafy anchors for shadier balconies. They bring texture and color even without flowers.

Lobelia

Lobelia trails beautifully from pots and hanging baskets and handles part shade nicely.

Fuchsia

Fuchsias are shade-tolerant show-offs. Their hanging, bell-shaped blooms are perfect for a covered or east-facing balcony.

Sweet Alyssum

Sweet alyssum makes a low, fragrant “skirt” at the front of pots or along the edge of balcony boxes—great for softening hard lines.

New Guinea Impatiens

New Guinea impatiens bring bold blooms to those tricky “bright but not sunny” spots many balconies have.

🌿 Easiest Herbs for Apartment Balconies

Herbs might be the best “first plants” for balcony gardeners. They stay small, bounce back from mistakes, and you get to eat the results.

🌿 Basil – Loves sun and warmth; perfect near the door for quick harvests.
🌿 Mint – Very forgiving, but keep it in its own pot so it doesn’t take over.

🌿 Rosemary & thyme – Great for hot, sunny balconies with good drainage.
🌿 Parsley – Handles a bit more shade and cooler conditions.

Most herbs do well in modest-sized pots (6–10 inches), as long as they have drainage holes and a good quality potting mix—not heavy garden soil.

🪴 Compact Flowers & Vines for Small Balconies

Mini Roses

Miniature roses give you that classic rose look without taking over the whole balcony. They do best in sun and appreciate a deep, well-draining pot.

Mandevilla

Mandevilla is a sun-loving vine with big, tropical blooms. Give it a trellis or balcony rail to climb and it will quickly become a focal point.

Pansies & Violas

Pansies and violas are cool-season stars. They’re perfect for spring and fall color, and they tuck nicely into railing boxes and mixed containers.

🧺 Low-Maintenance Houseplants that Work Outdoors in Season

Some houseplants can spend summer on the balcony and then come back indoors for winter. Good candidates include:

🪴 Peace lily – Great for bright shade, but avoid harsh midday sun.
🪴 Snake plant – Surprisingly tough outdoors in warm weather; keep out of scorching direct sun.

🪴 Succulents – Excellent for hot, sunny balconies with very sharp drainage.

Just remember to bring them back inside before nights get cold in fall.

💧 Simple Watering & Care Tips for Balcony Plants

Balcony plants dry out faster than in-ground plants because they’re exposed to sun and wind on all sides. A few simple habits make a big difference:

💧 Use the finger test: if the top inch of soil is dry, it’s time to water.
💧 Water deeply until it drains out the bottom, then let excess drain away.
💧 Add saucers or self-watering planters if you miss days here and there.

🌱 Feed lightly with a balanced, container-safe fertilizer during active growth.

Terracotta watering spikes and self-watering pots can smooth out your watering schedule and keep plants from drying out completely when life gets busy.

🌦 Wind, Weight & Safety on Apartment Balconies

Before you load the balcony with giant pots, it’s smart to think about safety and building rules.

🌬 Wind: Tall plants and light pots can blow over. Use heavier bases, railing clamps, or grouped containers for stability.
⚖ Weight: Use lighter plastic or resin containers and potting mix instead of dense garden soil.
🏢 Rules: Check with your building about weight limits and what’s allowed on railings or overhangs.

For more layout ideas and problem-solving, you can also explore: Balcony Gardening for Beginners: 16 Easy Tips and Tricks.

🌱 Conclusion: Start Small, Then Grow Your Balcony Jungle

You don’t have to figure everything out on day one. The easiest way to succeed is to:

✅ Pick 3–5 plants that match your light and your watering habits.

✅ Use good containers with drainage and a quality potting mix.
✅ Watch how your balcony behaves in sun, wind, and heat for a few weeks.

Once those first plants feel easy, you can add more herbs, flowers, or compact edibles and slowly build the lush balcony garden you’ve been picturing.

When you’re ready to go deeper on layout and setup, your next stops are:

🌿 Balcony Gardening: Comprehensive Guide
🪴 How To Start a Balcony Garden
📏 Vertical Balcony Gardening

❓ FAQs: Best Plants for an Apartment Balcony

What are the best beginner-friendly plants for an apartment balcony?

Some of the easiest beginner plants for an apartment balcony are herbs (like basil, mint, and parsley), compact flowers (such as pansies and lobelia), and a few simple edibles like strawberries or cherry tomatoes. These plants stay relatively small, grow happily in containers, and forgive the occasional missed watering.

Can I grow vegetables on a small apartment balcony?

Yes. Many vegetables grow well in containers, especially compact or “patio” varieties of tomatoes, peppers, salad greens, radishes, and bush beans. As long as you give them enough light, a big enough pot, and consistent watering, you can harvest real food from a tiny balcony.

What plants work well on a shady apartment balcony?

For shadier balconies, look for plants like ferns, hostas, heucheras, lobelia, fuchsia, sweet alyssum, and New Guinea impatiens. Many herbs such as mint, parsley, and chives also handle part shade. These plants are adapted to lower light and can still give you color and texture without full sun.

How many plants should I start with on my balcony?

A good starting point is three to five containers. That’s enough to make the balcony feel alive without overwhelming you while you’re learning how your space behaves in different seasons. Once those plants are doing well, you can always add more pots or go vertical with shelves and hanging baskets.

Do I need special pots or soil for balcony plants?

You don’t need anything fancy, but containers must have drainage holes, and you should use a high-quality potting mix instead of garden soil. Potting mix is lighter and drains better, which is important for balcony safety and root health. Self-watering pots or watering spikes can help if you tend to forget to water.

How do I protect balcony plants from strong wind and weather?

You can protect balcony plants from wind by grouping pots together, tucking them into corners, using heavier containers, or adding trellises and railings as windbreaks. During heat waves, move pots out of the harshest afternoon sun if possible and water more often. In cold weather, bring tender plants indoors or insulate pots from freezing temperatures.